Pearcedale trainer Jason Thompson has the three favourites in the biggest event on Shepparton’s racing calendar, the CKH Painting Shepparton Cup Final which is set to run on Saturday night.
Thompson has a rich history with the Shepparton Cup, boasting victories in 1993 with Head Honcho, 2004 with Whisky Assassin and Hanify’s Impact in 2008.
Saturday nights Shepparton Cup is a special one being the second Shepparton Cup run this year – the first and likely last of this occurrence.
Sleek Master (pictured below) looks the best of Thompsons’ three chances after drawing the favourable box one in the $67,000 feature. Sleek Master is a winner of 14 races from 42 starts, which includes 20 minor placings and $57,932 in prize money.
“Sleek Master is very good going through a field which he showed in his heat win. It was great to see him poke through and bounce back with a win,” trainer Jason Thompson explained.
Thompson’s chances for a win in his fourth Shepparton Cup don’t stop with Sleek Master, Invictus Rapid recorded the fastest win in the heats and will be jumping from box eight in his fifth group race appearance.
Invictus Rapid (pictured box seven) has amassed $112,156 in prize money from 45 career starts including 16 wins and 20 minor placings.
“He does enjoy racing out wide and he used the outside draw in the heats last week,” Thompson continued.
“Invictus Rapid never used to be a reliable beginner but in his last half a dozen starts he has worked out to get out of a box which is pleasing.”
Aston Bolero rounds out Thompson’s chances in the Shepparton Cup.Jumping from box six in the final, he is the only greyhound Thompson has in the field who has a country cup victory to his name, after he won the 2016 Bendigo Cup in July.
Aston Bolero’s Bendigo Cup victory was one in a string of impressive victories that helped to collect $181,960 in prize money, which included 34 wins and 14 minor placings from just 57 starts.
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