Thompsons set to weave Cup magic with kennel newcomers

By Jordan Gerrans

From humble beginnings in the greyhound industry, the Central Queensland Thompson team now boasts the largest kennel in terms of numbers in the region.

And, with the prized Rockhampton Cup series rolling around for another year, Juanita and Clinton Thompson are keen to make a splash with two smart new dogs to their kennel who boast strong southern form.

A total of five Group 2 Rockhampton Cup heats will be contested on Friday evening at Callaghan Park before the rich Final later this month.

The Thompsons have city-class dogs Heffernan Bale and Black Wizard who both have recorded double figure victories across Victoria and New South Wales before being purchased by Bradley Mulvihill and sent to ‘Rocky’.

CQ local Mulvihill has long been a supporter of the Thompson team and picked up Heffernan Bale and Black Wizard with the 2024 Cup series specifically in mind.

“It is good to have an owner that has given us the opportunity to have a crack at these big races and give us some very handy dogs,” Juanita said.

“He is very particular in what he looks for – he does not muck around, that is for sure. He has been good to us and given us some good dogs since he has been with us. He is great at picking his dogs out.

“He had a trainer's licence many years ago I think and has also been involved with horses at some stage but he is back in with the greyhounds now as an owner.”

The Thompsons are still relative newcomers to the greyhound racing game after previously training gallopers in CQ for decades.

They have quickly climbed the ladder and now boast the largest kennel in terms of numbers of dogs in Rockhampton.

They have upwards of 30 in work as well as pups and brood bitches.

The team has 29 winners to their name so far this year and have a glut of dogs nominated for Friday’s show-piece Cup heats meeting.

Leading South East Queensland dog man Warren Nicholls has been a big driver of the Thompsons growth, regularly offering the duo advice and guidance as well as providing them with plenty of top greyhounds, as well.

Cup contenders Heffernan Bale and Black Wizard landed with the Thompson kennel after the Mulvihill-owned Nakisha, among others, enjoyed success in recent times in 'Rocky'.

Nakisha has won five and been placed on seven occasions from 14 attempts in regional Queensland.

The team are hopeful the newcomers can just be impactful.

“Black Wizard has settled in really well and has scrubbed up pretty good now,” Juanita said.

“He has really come out of his shell now and is really going forward with us now.

“And, Heffernan, it certainly has not phased him the travel up, his weight has held pretty good with all the changes.

“It is like he has been here all along so it is like he has settled in really well – it has not stressed him at all – which is a relief being so close to the Cup heats.”

Heffernan Bale will start in the opening heat on Friday before Black Wizard runs in the last.

Black Wizard has had four looks at the Callaghan Park surface – registering a victory and one other minor placing – and finished fifth in last week’s Rockhampton Cup Wildcard event for locally-prepared chasers.

He needs to overcome the pink alley on Friday, a draw he is yet to win from in five attempts.

“He has been good and I think he likes the track,” Juanita said.

“I am not sure he will like the box eight, which he has in the heats, as he is not an outside dog.

“An inside draw would have helped him more.”

The Tungamull-based trainer believes Heffernan Bale faces the toughest heat on the program on Friday, pitted against Travis Elson’s Group 1 champion Bear's Bullet.

Heffernan Bale is yet to face the starter in the Sunshine State but boasts a strong record at The Meadows and Sandown Park before heading north.

“He has run against some handy dogs down south,” she said of Heffernan Bale.

“I do not think he will care wherever he is drawn in the field, he will go all right from seven or an inside box.

“I think if he can get around that first corner safely, I do not think the box will worry him.”