Training Greats Marvel At Brisbane Cup Stakes Boost

JASON Thompson joked today that he, Tony Brett and Dennis Reid should combine forces and ask Racing Queensland if they can get “payback” for their Brisbane Cup wins.

Racing Queensland has just announced the Group 1 Brisbane Cup in 2023 will become yet another $1 million race following the Million Dollar Chase, The Phoenix and The Melbourne Cup.

“Between Tony, Dennis and his family, and ourselves, we have won 14 Brisbane Cups,” said Jason.

“It would be a nice dream to think we could get retrospective payment for all those Cup wins,” he added tongue in cheek.

Albion Park Thur July 7 2022
2022 (Group 1) Brisbane Cup Final. 520m
1st – Box 8 Orchestrate – Tony Brett
2nd – Box 7 Just A Sort – Tony Brett
3rd – Box 1 Photo Man – Gavin Clifton
29.65 (5.40 – 11.61 – 12.64) 3 1/2 x 2 1/4 pic.twitter.com/tJI6iH5itt

— John Brasch (@Bunny_Brasch) July 7, 2022

Thompson won the Brisbane Cup with Uno Joel in 2007, El Galo in 2008, Got A Moment in 2012, Black Opium in 2020 and Equalizer in 2021.

Brett won with Orchestrate this year when the purse was $525,000, Fast Times back in 2017 when the winner received $75,000, in 2016 with Thirty Talks, 2011 with Glen Gallon and 2003 with Bogie Leigh.

Northern Rivers great Dennis Reid won in 1987 with Whip Tip, 1989 with Golden Fox and 1998 with Questions. Dennis' daughter Belinda won with Bob's One in 1999.

“This move by Racing Queensland to make the Brisbane Cup one million dollars shows just how well greyhound racing is going in all states,” said Jason.

“It is such a positive thing.

“Prior to the very first million dollar race a couple of years ago, our industry only hoped it would happen.

“But here they are popping up all the time.”

EQUALIZER in the final bound snatches victory up the inside rail off Black Magic Rose ? This Jason Thompson-trained chaser is looking very dangerous in next week's Brisbane Cup! #QLDisRacing? @BrisGreys pic.twitter.com/CZtjeCNieR

— RaceQ (@RaceQLD) June 30, 2022

Brett harked back to Bogie Leigh's victory which earned $50,000.

“To think this year Orchestrate won $350,000 and now next year's race will be worth nearly double that, wow,” said Brett.

Thompson was upbeat about the entire greyhound racing industry.

“It is not just these big money races, right across the board prizemoney is increasing,” he said.

“It is nothing for a dog to win $40,000 or $50,000. And you don't need a champion these days to win $100,000.”

He said this was obvious today when trying to buy promising young dogs.

“We find the prices needed to buy this type of dog is now two or three times more than only five or 10 years ago.”

Thompson was high in praise of Racing Queensland and especially Adam Wallish RQ's EMG operations manager.

“Back in the days of the Gabba, Lawnton, Toowoomba and the Gold Coast, greyhound racing in Queensland was going ahead,” said Thompson.

“Then it stagnated for a while. It did not go backwards, but stayed much the same.

“Adam is a great operator and since he has gone to Queensland things are going great.”

Thompson said Covid had been of some benefit to the overall racing industry coffers because the punters were at home betting on line.

“But, we still needed to have a good product for the punters to back us,” he said.

“That's what has happened.

“And such prizemoney rises like a $1 million Brisbane Cup will keep the encouragement of breeders to breed, owners to buy more dogs and keep going.

A simply stunning performance from Victoria's darling Black Opium who blitzed her rivals in the 2020 @SkyRacingAU Brisbane Cup Final over Special Cyndie and Who Told Stevie.

Congratulations to all connections.@RaceQLD @tabcomau @GerardDaffy @Bunny_Brasch @MMcInallyPhotos pic.twitter.com/hPGZYlQNe2

— Brisbane Greyhounds (@BrisGreys) July 2, 2020

“No one can whine about prizemoney today.”

Brett has signalled his scaling back of his kennel and he and wife Fleur are planning holidays overseas during 2023.

“When the new track at Purga is built, we will be ready to get back into it full time but not with a kennel as big as we have had in the past,” he said.

Brett said Queensland had to keep pace with surging prizemoney levels for Group races in the south.

“It just wasn't worth southern kennels making the effort to come north for $100,000 when country cups in their back yard were worth almost as much,” he said.

Brett has hosted a number of stars, including Thompson's Cup winners Black Opium and Equalizer, in recent times.

“We've been approached about taking on some southerners for the upcoming carnival,” he said. “But, we've got a bit more room for others.

“After the summer carnival finishes in February, Fleur and I will look to head overseas for a holiday.”

Reidy said today he could not even remember the winner's stake when Whip Tip, Golden Fox and Questions won.

“I can't believe the Brisbane Cup will be a million dollars,” said Reidy.

Tony Brett's 2022 Brisbane Cup winner, Orchestrate, resumed racing at Ipswich on Saturday night with a scorching 24.64 Best 8 win over 431m at Ipswich scoring be seven lengths.

The track record is 24.54.