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Ben Thompson's passion for the dogs

7 July 2021

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ca052f75-ed4f-4f70-a6c6-8cfe1a84a276.jpgBy Jordan Gerrans

Despite being right in the middle of the TAB Queensland Winter Racing Carnival, Ben Thompson does not miss a beat with his first love.

Asked about his father’s star greyhound – Equalizer – Thompson can quickly rattle off the dog's recent form, what box he jumped from, the time he won in and everything else in-between.

During a stellar winter on a personal level, the 24-year-old still has time for his beloved dogs.

“Without doubt, they are my biggest outlet away from thoroughbreds, although it is still racing, it is different and unique in their own right,” Thompson said.

“My career and my partner Stephanie’s career – that is my parents' biggest interest outside of greyhounds and on the other hand, our biggest interest outside of our riding is following the dogs.

“If I had a day off while I was in Victoria or I was suspended from riding, my parents would get me down there working with the dogs and after a few days I missed the thoroughbreds.

“The dogs are great; they are a beautiful animal.”

Ben’s father Jason is one of the leading greyhound trainers in Australia, a multiple-Melbourne and Brisbane Cup champion.

The now Sunshine State-based gun hoop grew up around the greyhounds, and describes them as his main hobby as a youngster, having handled countless dogs on race day – including a Brisbane Cup – and is an avid follower of the code.

While he loved handling and being around the dogs on a more regular basis earlier in his life when based in Victoria, Ben says he never considered following in his father’s footsteps and becoming a trainer.

According to Jason, the family's involvement in different codes of racing provides them outlets outside of their respective jobs on a day-to-day basis.

“It works both ways, when you are involved in racing, it is our living and it is Ben’s living and it is not hard to then for us to follow his racing code and vice versa with the dogs,” Jason said.

“His riding is a good outlet for us, we get to sit back and watch him, and he can watch the dogs these days as he had a much bigger involvement while living and working in Victoria.”

For the second year in a row, Jason has remained in Victoria with borders stopping his chances of watching his greyhound in person win a big feature race over the winter.

He was forced to watch on TV last year as Black Opium won the 2020 race and will have to do the same again this week as Equalizer chases the Group 1 Cup – potentially Thompson’s fourth of his career.

Like he did last year, the smart Thompson dog has resided with champion local trainer Tony Brett – a partnership that the Victorian trainer says has worked wonders.

Races

8
8

Albion Park | Brisbane Greyhound Racing Club | 9:13 PM

SKY RACING Brisbane Cup (G1) F

“Backmarkers like Equalizer always need a little bit of luck in transit, but I’ll tell you he’s pretty smart this dog he’s been weaving his way through fields his whole career and this race is not beyond him,” Brett said.

“I’d back him to pick up just about any dog in the race apart from Shima Shine who’s probably the one dog capable of running a complete race start to finish.

“If Shima Shine jumps I think we’ll all be in trouble, but Equalizer couldn’t have done much more his first two weeks up here and will be jumping out of the ground if they give him a look.

"I can’t thank Jason Thompson enough for giving me a chance to race his dog for this kind of money.”

Ben is unlikely to be on hand come Thursday evening at Albion Park, having to ride south of the border on Thursday at Grafton, before heading to Rockhampton the following day.

While he will not be there at the track, Ben thinks his father’s dog is well-placed in the $250,000 feature to be run over 520 metres.

“He has acclimatised very, very well; he trialled good the Monday before and came out and won well the other night, he went super and was aided by a good draw that night and a nice box on the inside,” Ben said.

“He does not show much customary pace and relies on a lot of luck, like the gallopers – he is always riding for luck.

“He has drawn box four for the Brisbane Cup and mum and dad wanted him to draw anywhere between one and four, at least they have got that.

“He will have to do everything right as Shima Shine and others, there is a few stars in this race, there is no dog in this race that does not deserve to be there.

“Hopefully he can make it three runs from three starts up here.”

Equalizer

Equalizer has won three of his last five, with 19 career wins in total, but Jason is of the belief that his greyhound faces a tough task to become 2021 Brisbane Cup champion, declaring he will need plenty of luck in the run.

“We are very confident that the dog will run well but Shima Shine (the Gold Bullion winner from earlier this year) will be very hard to beat,” Jason said.

“If Shima Shine finds the front early, not just us, but no one will be able to beat him if that is the case.

“Our dog is flying and going super, I could not be happier with him, but you need to be realistic that Australia’s best race dog is in the race and is going well.”

After handling a Brisbane Cup winner in 2012, Ben jokes that all he has to do now is ride a Brisbane Cup winner in the 2022 carnival to complete the double.

“It is a town that has been great to my family as we are going for our fourth Brisbane Cup win,” Ben said.

“Hopefully Dad and mum, my brother and sister – who are both heavily involved as well – hopefully they can make it back to back Brisbane Cups.”

The TAB has Equalizer as a $4.40 chance in Thursday evening’s Brisbane Cup, with Shima Shine to the short-priced favourite at $1.90.

On his recent TAB Queensland Winter Racing Carnival form, Ben could not be more pleased with the way he rode, claiming the Group 2 Champagne Stakes as well as the Listed Gai Waterhouse Classic and Eye Liner at Ipswich last month.

After residing in Brisbane for almost 12 months, Ben hopes to build on his success over the last year and continue to improve.