By TERRY WILSON

PREMIER Victorian trainer Jason Thompson is chasing his second fly-in Group 1 success when he sends two of his runners to South Australia for the Adelaide Cup (515m).
Forced out of his usual routine of driving his dogs to South Australia because of coronavirus-enforced border restrictions, Thompson nevertheless will have a strong presence.
The Friday, October 9, Adelaide Cup is worth $73,000 overall and it was an event that will long be remembered especially for the feat of Hooked On Scotch last year.
Hooked On Scotch, now retired to stud duties, put up one of the most phenomenal runs in greyhound history when he stormed home from the rear of the field at the top of the straight to snatch victory in the shadows of the post.
One of his victims was the mighty Sennachie.
That win was just one of five times Thompson runners have landed the goods in the Cup.
“Yes, we’ve won it a few times, so it is a race that has been good for us,” said Thompson.
“And we’ve probably been in finals another five or six times.”
This year Thompson is sending Aston Silk and Taken over the border to be looked after by well-credentialled Ray Murray.
Last winter Thompson did similar with Black Opium, a bitch he sent to Tony Brett for the Group 1 Brisbane Cup at Albion Park.
Thompson’s Adelaide Cup winners have been Whippy’s Image (2008), El Galo (2009), Aqua Cheetah (2016), Real Simple (2018) and last year’s success with Hooked On Scotch.
“We normally take three or four over the border by car , so it has been a bit hard with the restrictions,” said Thompson.
Another leading Victorian operation, that of Jeff Britton and Angela Langton, is keeping their star Weblec Ace for the Million Dollar Chase semi-finals at Wentworth Park.
Victorian trainers have had considerable success in the Adelaide Cup. Garden State dogs have won 13 of the last 14 stagings and 19 of the last 22.
Among the illustrious winners have been Fernando Bale, which became the first dog to top one million dollars in prizemoney when he won at Angle Park in 2015.
Super sire Brett Lee (2001), Rapid Journey (1998) both won it and Jurassic Vapour (1996) is the only Queensland dog to have won the classic.
Meanwhile, the South Australian spotlight will then head across the state for the Gawler Gold Cup (531m).
The event carries Group 3 status with $25,000 to the winner of the final on Sunday, October 25.
Heats of the Cup are scheduled for Monday, October 19, at the oldest country town on the Australian mainland.

Caption: Jason Thompson and Hooked On Scotch after a miraculous victory in the 2019 Adelaide Cup