Top model’s $100,000

By Ben Hope
AFTER placing in six of her last 11 group race starts, Pearcedale trainer Jason Thompson wasn’t surprised when three-year-old Next Top Model won the Sandown Cup at Sandown Park last Thursday night.
The Thompson trained brindle bitch brought home the $100,000 prize after edging out Devon Meadows trainer Darren McDonald’s dogs, Reign Over Me and Countess of Cork, who came in second and third.
“I was reasonably confident Next Top Model would go well if she had a bit of luck,” Thompson said.
“She only won by a head – it was a close finish – but she always looked as though she was going to get there. It took her almost to the winning post but she got there.”
Next Top Model began well and led second-placed Reign Over Me into the home straight on the first round. Reign Over Me then took to the rails and took the lead to set up an epic finish with Next Top Model running neck and neck down the home straight.
Next Top Model dove over the line to win the 715-metre race by a head and shave .04 seconds off the previous 42-second race record.
Dismissing the record as a result of the recent surface upgrade at Sandown, Thompson said it was the placing, not the time that was most important in a group one race.
“When you are running for $100,000 the time doesn’t matter much, it’s all about getting the right result,” Thompson said.
“They’ve put a new track down at Sandown and it is definitely running quicker than it used to, it certainly makes a difference.”
Next Top Model ran fifth in the Cup last year and has already earned $206,400 after 19 wins from 41 starts in her 16 months at the Thompson kennel.
Thompson said her New South Wales owner John McGeary was rapt with the result.
“She’s a quality bitch. Before last night she had won over $100,000 and she’s doubled that,” Thompson said. “She’s a very good racing dog.”
The win is Thompson’s second Sandown Cup after he took out the 2004 race with Proven Lethal. He remains humble about his success despite also winning the $10,000 515-metre Dave Hodgson Memorial with Fedex on the same night.
“When you get good dogs you can win these sorts of races,” he said.
Next Top Model will go on to race in the group one Gold Cup at Albion Park, Queensland where Thompson is hoping her recent form will again be rewarded.