Pearcedale trainer Jason Thompson will not appeal Greyhound Racing Victoria officials’ decision to strip him of his prizemoney from winning last year’s Topgun. Stewards found banned substance N-butyl-hyoscine in his star dog El Galo’s urine sample after the race.By Stuart Teather
PEARCEDALE greyhound trainer Jason Thompson has decided not to contest his $1,000 fine from Greyhound Racing Victoria after being found guilty of racing a dog with a banned substance in its system.
As a result of the hearing, Thompson’s champion dog El Galo was disqualified from the Topgun race, held last October, and Thompson forfeited the $100,000 first prize.
Despite the charge, El Galo has been in sensational form over the past 12 months and has earned a reputation as the fastest dog in the land.
The GRV’s Greyhound of the Year will line up in the Group 1 Australian Cup this Saturday at The Meadows, where he will look to claim the $150,000 first prize.
El Galo is the raging favourite for the race and has proved to be near unbeatable at The Meadows track in Broadmeadows.
El Galo will jump from box seven but should have few concerns with his famed early speed.
His biggest challenge will most likely come from Velocette in box five, or Tasmanian Big Moose in box two.
Velocette ran an impressive 29.79 in his heat – just 0.04 seconds off El Galo’s best time at the track – blitzing the field by eight-and-a-half lengths.
Big Moose is coming off a win in the Group 2 Launceston Cup, and should get a good run from his inside box.
Thompson has another runner in the cup, with two-year-old bitch Proven Polly jumping from box eight.
