Oh, what a night for Victoria in the Group 1 Hobart Thousand (461m).
The Vics took Tassie by storm, completing a ‘trifecta whitewash’ in last night’s $75,000 to-the-winner event.
It was Aussie Secret 1st , Do It 2nd and Ferdinand Boy 3rd.
Champion Pearcedale trainer Jason Thompson landed his second Hobart Thousand in three years when Aussie Secret ($3.90) led all-the-way from Box 1 to defeat the fast-finishing Do It ($5.50) by one length with Ferdinand Boy ($2.40F) three-quarters of a length away third in 25.87sec.
Thompson won the race with retired megastar Hooked On Scotch in 2019.
A recent G1 Melbourne Cup finalist, Aussie Secret notched his 33rd win (with nine seconds and seven thirds) from 63 starts and his stakes spiralled to $270,716.
Bred and owned by Robert Bean of Tinamba, Aussie Secret (Oct ’18 Bernardo x Sunset Believer) has also won the inaugural Pink Diamond Champion Short Course and was a finalist in the G1 Silver Chief, G2 Horsham Cup and G2 Ballarat Cup.
Bean had a night to remember, as around 30 minutes earlier he scored with Got The Torque ($12.30) in a smart 29.33sec at Sandown Park.
G1 Adelaide Cup winner Do It, trained by Jeff Britton, also did Victoria proud as did triple G2 winner Ferdinand Boy, prepared by David Geall. They won connections $18,000 and $8500 respectively by running second and third.
Click HERE to watch the Hobart Thousand replay
“Could this be a sign of things to come,” one Sky Channel commentator quipped after the final. Thompson is chasing a $750,000 first prize with True Collinda in the inaugural TAB The Phoenix (525m) at The Meadows on Saturday night. Aussie Secret – noted for his wave curl “best tail in greyhound racing” – was under the guidance of caretaker and legendary local trainer Mick Stringer during his Hobart Thousand campaign. He also ‘deputised’ for Do It.
“I’m very happy,” Stringer said. “I’d like to thank Jason Thompson as he has no hesitation in sending these dogs over to me.
“They’re (Thompson and Britton) the ultimate professionals and I’m humbled the best trainers are confident in sending them.
“I think it’s a feather in my cap.”