News
25 February, 2024
Tim Zoo delivers Australian Cup KO!
Holly and Sophie with winner Tim Zoo and The 2024 Australian Cup
Champion trainer Jason Thompson has climbed virtually every mountain in greyhound racing.
But he finally reached his ‘Everest’ in the sport when Tim Zoo – named after Aussie boxing world champion, Tim Tszyu – scored a KO in the $450,000 Group 1 Sportsbet Australian Cup Final (525m) at The Meadows on Saturday night.
Incredibly, Thompson – who has won practically every ‘major’ you could name – snared the ‘Cup of Dreams’ after having 25 finalists in the past two decades.
“This is one of the few races that dad hasn’t won, and this dog is just unbelievable.”
Since 2004, Thompson has had the following Australian Cup placegetters –Monsters Inc (2004), El Galo (2008 & 2009), El Brooklyn (2013) and Black Frenzy (2016). He’s also finished third with Oxley Tiger (2005) and Aeroplane Bob (2017).
In 2019, Thompson’s wife Seona prepared Black Opium (2nd) and Deliver (3rd).
Occupying the coveted ‘red’ alley (Box 1), Tim Zoo ($4.20) defeated a gallant Schillaci ($10.20) by 1.47L, with Launch Code ($23.40) a further 0.33L away third in a slick 29.71sec. Thompson’s other finalist, Alpha Zulu ($7.00), finished fourth – 4.57L off his kennelmate.
Tim Zoo (Oct ’21 Aussie Infrared x Double Supreme) – owned by the Derek syndicate managed by Thompson’s daughter, Holly – notched his 15th win from 28 starts. The $300,000 winner’s purse spiralled his stakes to $457,265.
He has also won this year’s G2 Warragul Cup and was a finalist in last year’s G1 Melbourne Cup (6th) and G3 Great Chase (2nd) – won by his kennelmate, Explicit.
Tim Zoo was handled by Thompson’s daughter Holly, who struggled to hold back her emotions after the win.
“This is one of the few races that dad hasn’t won, and this dog is just unbelievable,” Holly said.
“As soon as we got him, I remember after a few trials dad came home and said we’ve got a pretty good one here.
“There’s a lot of people that have shares in this dog including a lot of our family.
“I’m just lost for words. It’s the best feeling.”