Thompson has his sights set on another Melbourne Cup

All eyes are on Sandown Park on Saturday night for the world’s biggest greyhound race, the Sportsbet Melbourne Cup.

This is the race of the elite. Last Saturday night 64 greyhounds competed in eight heats and only the winners made it through to the $760,000 race covering a distance of 515 metres.

Team Thompson, from Awesome Lodge, one of the sport’s best lodges, has two fancied runners named Joey The Jet (one) and Explicit (six).

“Joey The Jet is a dog with lots of the ‘x’ factor and is definitely a true Melbourne Cup dog,” said trainer Jason Thompson.

“I think he’ll be a big player based on where he is.”

Joey The Jet is a month shy of his second birthday and boasts seven wins from nine career starts, an impressive record, and is unbeaten from his boxing debut Melbourne Cup draw.

Thompson’s runner-up, Explicit, is widely regarded as Australia’s best sprinter.

“I’m pretty biased towards this dog, I think he’s an absolute superstar,” Thompson said.

Explicit took sixth place in his fourth Group 1 race.

“I think the box draw is really good, I’m very happy with where it’s drawn because all the speed is drawn under it.”

Sandown Park will also host the G1 Bold Trease over 715 metres.

Those remaining will be offered $110,000 and Canya All Class, a familiar face to Racing.com viewers, is the favorite of her trainer and owner Grand Syndicates Experience Manager Jess Hopkins.

The Sportsbet Melbourne Cup is Race 10 of the program at Sandown Park.

You can watch all the action on Racing.com from 6.15pm (AEDT) on Saturday with Gareth Hall, James Van de Maat, Jason Adams and Mitch Ebeyer.

Click here to view and download a PDF version of the tips.

Click here to view and download a PDF version of the tips.