Pearcedale greyhound El Galo will run as favourite in the Group One TopGun race at The Meadows on Saturday night.By Stuart Teather
PEARCEDALE greyhound trainer Jason Thompson has a nervous wait ahead of him with his prize dog El Galo racing in the $100,000-to-the-winner Group One TopGun race on Saturday night.
El Galo will go in as favourite after champion dog Knocka Norris was scratched and retired from racing after sustaining a hock injury during recent trials at The Meadows, where the TopGun will be run.
“Knocka” was widely touted as the fastest dog in the land, but owner Reg Kay was forced to send him to stud after the injury was discovered.
El Galo, running from box five, gained the favouritism despite losing recently to another TopGun runner, One Tree Hill, at the recent Paws of Thunder.
El Galo beat eventual winner One Tree Hill by seven and a half lengths in the semi-finals but could only manage third in the final.
Thompson said there was nothing stopping his dog from claiming the $100,000 on Saturday.
“He’s got a very good chance. He’s in good form and he goes pretty well at the track (The Meadows),” he said.
“I think it helps all of them with (Knocka Norris) being scratched. He was certainly, from box one, going to be the dog to beat.
“El Galo, if he leads, will certainly take some running down.
“I think this year he’s only missed a place twice out of nearly 30 races, so the dog’s going good.
“He’s starting this race fit and well. He’s been freshened up, so he’s got no excuses.”
With his dog the hot favourite to take the race out, it is little surprise that Thompson is looking forward to the event.
“You wouldn’t be human if you didn’t get excited by a Group One race. I don’t care how many you’ve been in or how many you’ve won; you always get excited,” he said.
