In a remarkable 20-minute Friday night ‘blitzkrieg’, champion trainer Jason Thompson came within 2.5 lengths of breaking three track records at Sale and Geelong with kennel stars Catch The Thief, Aussie Secret and Rebellious.
“They’re three very nice dogs and when they do everything right they can all run time,” said Thompson.
Thompson prepared a race-to-race double at Sale, with four-time G1 finalist Catch The Thief (Aussie Infrared x Dundee Ally) the second leg, clocking a blistering 28.99sec over 520m in trouncing G3 Launching Pad winner Kuro Kismet by seven lengths.
It was the 2020 G2 WA Derby winner’s 25th win from 54 starts and was only .02sec outside Shooting Star’s course record, established back in March 2008.
“There’d only be Catch The Thief and the dog that holds the record that’s broken 29 seconds at Sale but while the record would’ve been nice, the most important thing was to see him get some confidence back,” said Thompson.
“He’s been going around in city FFAs and hadn’t had an awful lot of luck at his last two starts so it was good to see him get to the front, have a confidence-boosting win and to run time as well was great.
“The Million Dollar Chase was the plan for him so we’ll just have to see what happens with everything that’s going on in Sydney at the moment.”
WATCH: Four-time G1 finalist Catch The Thief (8) was only .02sec off ‘stealing’ Sale’s long-standing 520m record on Friday night.
In the previous event, Aussie Secret (Bernardo x Sunset Believer) started $1.40 favourite in a 440m FFA and continued his sensational recent form, leading all-the-way in 24.45sec.
Aussie Secret has now won five of his seven starts at Sale over 440m and 520m, with his time just over two lengths outside the track record of 24.30sec, held by Aston Bolero, which was also trained by Thompson.
It was Aussie Secret’s fifth win from his last six starts and 24th from 47 overall.
“He’s one of our favourite dogs at home – everyone loves him – and every time you take him to the races, whether he wins or gets beaten, he always gives 110 per cent; he’s just so honest,” said Thompson.
“He’s one of those dogs that whenever the good races are on, you can turn up with him.
“He might go to the Healesville Cup. It’s probably not ideal for him but he has raced well there.”
WATCH: Aussie Secret (4) was crowded early before kicking away to a brilliant 440m win at Sale in 24.45sec.
In between Thompson’s scintillating Sale double, regally-bred youngster Rebellious (Barcia Bale x On The Runway) continued the breathtaking start to his career at his Geelong debut.
Not yet two, Rebellious claimed his 10th win from 12 starts and fourth straight, posting 25.24sec over 460m, only two lengths off the 25.11sec benchmark established by another Thompson-trained superstar Black Magic Opal in the 2013 G2 Geelong Cup.
Rebellious, whose mother On The Runway is a litter sister to 2018 Topgun hero Poke The Bear and dual G1 winner Out Of Range and half-sister to another two-time G1 winner in Hooked On Scotch, all three prepared by Thompson, has threatened to break records everywhere he’s raced throughout his brief career.
“He’s a pretty serious dog; I’ve got a massive wrap on him,” said Thompson.
“He’s run quick time everywhere he’s been; Warragul over 400m and 460m, Sale, Shepparton, Bendigo and now Geelong.
“He’s got good habits, he jumps and runs, and he’s started to strengthen up. The best part of his run on Friday night was how he got to the line.
“I know he’ll run 500m and if he’s finishing his races off strongly that’s going to make a big difference. There’s no rush to get him there but probably from October onwards there’s plenty of nice races coming up.”
It wasn’t all good news for Thompson over the weekend, with his G1 Maturity Classic favourite Aston Fastnet blowing his chances at the start.
“He couldn’t have got the start any more wrong,” said Thompson.
“I’ve watched the replay a few times and he slipped when he came out. He was five lengths behind the second last dog and that was the end of his race.
“It’s unfortunate but hopefully there’ll be plenty more chances for him.”
WATCH: Rebellious (6) began like a rocket and never looked back, clocking a scintillating 25.24sec over the 460m.
