Brisbane Bound Postman Pat “The Real Deal”

CHAMPION trainer Jason Thompson has declared New Zealand import Postman Pat "the real deal" following his breathtaking near record Shepparton victory on Monday.

Making it two-from-two to launch his Australian career, Postman Pat scored over the Shepparton 450 metre journey in a sizzling 24.66, just a length outside Rejuvenate's 24.59 track record.

Interestingly, both Postman Pat and Rejuvenate – two of the most naturally gifted youngsters in training – are sons of rising star of the sire ranks Hooked On Scotch.

"Postman Pat was one of the last away (at Shepparton) yesterday which made the run even better," Thompson said of the eight length trouncing.

?? 24.664 seconds ??

POSTMAN PAT was one length off the Shepparton 450-metre track record in this commanding eight-length victory.

REJUVENATE (24.59 seconds) set the 450-metre time standard in this year's #SheppartonClassic Final on March 4.#GreyhoundRacing pic.twitter.com/T0WVVv43dM

— WatchDog Racing (@WatchDogRacing) May 22, 2023

"Going into his first run at Geelong he was a little underdone because he missed a week of work but he was more wound up for yesterday and it showed.

"I'm not going to throw any massive tag on him but I will say he's an elite dog and showed me right from the start what he's capable of.

"I can't wait to get him up to 520 metres either where I think he'll be even more suited."

Thompson plans to give Postman Pat two more Victorian runs before the gifted chaser heads to the Queensland kennels of Tony Brett for a tilt at the $1m Group 1 Brisbane Cup.

Between Thompson and Brett they have had a stranglehold on Brisbane's flagship event, remarkably winning 10 of the past 19 staging's.

The pending arrival of Postman Pat in the sunshine state will see the prodigious talent, now a winner at 12 of his 16 starts, join kennelmates Umberto, Stealth and boom youngster Alpha Zulu for the lucrative Brisbane winter carnival.

"Umberto and Stealth are already up there and Alpha Zulu heads there later this week," Thompson said.

"All three will contest the Flying Amy and then the Brisbane Cup but there's plenty of water to still go under the bridge.

"We've struck up a great relationship with Tony over the years and when they go to him you know they are in fantastic hands."

Winner at five of his seven career starts, Alpha Zulu – owned by AFL great Jonathan Brown and Fox Sports boss Steve Crawley – scorched around The Meadows on Saturday night in a slashing 29.66.

His first section was a remarkable 4.95.

"Alpha Zulu will trial at Albion Park on Sunday in preparation for the Flying Amy," Thompson said.

"He's got that great early speed and from hereon he'll be targeted towards all the big races.

Awesome from ‘Alpha'

ALPHA ZULU started sensationally and he secured his fifth victory from seven races in scintillating time at @MelbourneGreys.

ALPHA ZULU was four lengths off the 525-metre track record set by ALLEN DEED on January 3, 2015.#GreyhoundRacing #PremierRacing pic.twitter.com/UOFoFHXnxk

— WatchDog Racing (@WatchDogRacing) May 20, 2023

"After the Flying Amy and Brisbane Cup the Maturity Classic gets underway so those are his targets for the short term.

"To be doing what he's doing at just 20 months of age is very exciting. He's got it all ahead of him. I can't speak highly enough of the dog."

From the hugely exciting Orson Allen x Cyclone Jebel litter, Alpha Zulu is a brother to the unbeaten Zulu Blast which will start favourite for Thompson in Friday night's GRV VicBred Maiden Final (515m) at Sandown Park.

"He's a different kind of dog – doesn't have that elite early speed of his brother," Thompson said.

"It's not that he's slow early, just compared to his brother there's a bit between them. Later on I can see him getting over 600m and maybe even 700m."

Another from the litter, Atomic Zulu, trained by breeder Nick Koutsourakis,  will line-up in the final as well.