After two weeks of deliberation between connections it has been confirmed that young sprinter Black Opium will be set for a TAB Melbourne Cup campaign.
“She will be heading towards the Melbourne Cup,” revealed Seona Thompson (pictured with Black Opium) today on Sky Sports Radio’s Going Greyhounds.
Black Opium stunned punters when winning in 29.34 on her Sandown Park debut earlier this month, she then backed up her effort at the track last Thursday with a win in 29.46.
Amazingly, she doesn’t turn 2-years-old until late March. She’s been supported with tab.com.au to win the world’s greatest race – $31 into $12 since her inclusion in the pre-nom market.
The Thompson team are no strangers to preparing raw youngsters for the big stage as they had Run’s House contest the 2006 Cup in just his eighth career start.
“He was very exciting and gave us many thrills while he raced but I don’t think he had quality that this girl does. She is something pretty special.
“She doesn’t really have a clue what this is all about. She just turns up at the track and has fun. When the penny drops with her who knows what she’ll be able to do.”
Black Opium will race in the fourth and final TAB Melbourne Cup Prelude Series on Thursday November 8, which will be run alongside the $25,000 winner-take-all Shootout.
Thompson also revealed that Geelong Cup winner Aston Kimetto is a likely nominee for the Shootout. However, Topgun champ Poke The Bear will skip the four-dog-spectacular with his next start likely to be next Monday’s RSN Silver Bullet at The Meadows.
Nominations for the Shootout close at 11am on Monday with the field to be announced not long after. All four Shootout finalists and Prelude winners are exempt into TAB Melbourne Cup heats on Friday November 16.
For further Cup information see superdogs.com.au.
Click here for today’s edition of Sky Sports Radio’s Going Greyhounds with Mick Floyd
