Equalizer's Brisbane Cup defence on track

By Alex Nolan

Equalizer’s Brisbane Cup title defence is alive and well after the Jason Thompson-trained Victorian raider went back-to-back in Thursday's Group 3 Super Sprinters at Albion Park.

The son of KC And All is once more in the care of the Tony Brett kennel and extended his unbeaten record at ‘The Creek’ to four, after he powered along the fence to get the nod over temporary kennel mate Orchestrate in a tight finish.

Orchestrate battled on gamely for second after spearing across from box seven to lead for much of the 520 metres.

Flying Amy Classic winner Photo Man jumped cleanly from box one and remained within striking distance throughout, looking likely to go past the leader in the straight before his run ended.

But, it was Equalizer – known as ‘Stan’ away from the racetrack – who flashed along the inside to stop the clock in 29.82 seconds and claim the $40,000 winners’ cheque.  

Thompson now has a live hope of claiming a third consecutive Brisbane Cup and a sixth overall.

The champion trainer’s previous winners were Equalizer (2021), Black Opium (2020), Got A Moment (2012), El Galo (2008) and Uno Joel (2007).

Winning this year would see him move two clear of Brett, who boasts four Brisbane Cups, his last coming in 2017 with Fast Times.

Ironically, it is Brett who has been critical to Thompson’s previous Cup successes, often housing the Pearcedale kennel’s top liners when they make the trip north.

“Jason called me six weeks ago and said ‘Stan is going as good as the year before and I can’t wait to get him up to you’,” Brett said.

“There are a lot of fast race dogs around at the moment but you won’t find a more polished dog than him.

“You know if he just gets that little bit of room to move he’s going to be there at the end of it.  

“He’s just a true warhorse, to be doing that 12 months on with what he’s been through injury wise.

“I’m rapt, even though he did chase Orchestrate down.”

Brett said Orchestrate would derive plenty of benefit for the run and is on track to contest the Brisbane Cup.

“I didn’t mind getting beaten because I know his next couple of weeks are what counts for him,” Brett said.

“I didn’t run him last week because I wanted him fresh for tonight

“He got a bit tired at the end and that was just a bit of fitness.

“He won’t get tired next week.”

The Brett kennel came to the fore yet again as Bedrock Fred recorded his second Group 3 win in as many weeks when leading throughout to claim the Super Stayers Invitational over 710 metres.

The winner of last week’s Group 3 Dashing Corsair Final was sent out a second favourite with TAB as money poured in for the Jason Magri-trained Zipping Kansas.

But, after stepping cleanly, the Cherylee and Stewart Barber-owned Bedrock Fred bowled to the lead ahead of dual Group 1 winner Gypsy Wyong.

The latter checked Untapped, who in turn checked Zipping Kansas, and put paid to their winning chances.  

However, Bedrock Fred continued free wheeling out in front and extended his lead over Gypsy Wyong to win by four-and-a-half lengths.  

He stopped the clock in a blistering 41.42 seconds, lowering his winning time of last week by almost two-tenths of a second and taking his prize money total for the carnival thus far to $65,000.  

“I didn’t predict he’d go 41.60 seconds last week and didn’t think he had more improvement in him but he jumped tonight and away he went,” Brett said.

“When I got to the clock and saw 41.40 seconds, you’re getting down to a real serious stayer with that time.

“And to do it at both ends, there’s not many that can.

“He’s a great little dog.”

Despite their winning performances, both Equalizer ($12 chance in the Brisbane Cup) and Bedrock Fred ($13 chance in the Queensland Cup) remain at double figure quotes with TAB for their upcoming Group 1 assignments.

Earlier, trainer Jedda Cutlack claimed the Thunder Final over 395 metres with veteran chaser Mitchell Street.

The now four-year-old made it a winning double for Cutlack after Showdown returned to the winners’ circle for the first time since March in the fourth event on the program. 

He’s On Fire, another product of South Australia, took out the Lightning Final for trainer Kevin Murnane and owner Timothy Richards.  

In one of the strongest fifth grade events you could hope to see, Western Australian chaser Panama Pepper was victorious in a best of night 29.63 seconds, two-and-a-half lengths clear of Shipwreck.