Plaintiff Ready To Strike In Launching Pad

JASON Thompson is confident exciting youngster Plaintiff can continue his impressive form in Thursday night's Launching Pad after drawing box two for the $150,000 to-the-winner final.

At 20 months of age and with just seven starts to his name, Plaintiff is both the youngest and least experienced greyhound in the final.

Despite his inexperience, he is also the only finalist to have won at group level having won the Vic Bred Maiden Final at The Meadows in February.

Running second in both the heat and semi-final of that series, Plaintiff's times improved in each week of the series before capitalising on an improved box draw to win the final, a formula Thompson is aiming to replicate on Thursday night.

"He went straight into the good maiden at The Meadows, another three-week series, and built him into it and we've done the same here," said Thompson.

"You don't need to run the grand final four weeks out from the race, the grand final is this Thursday. If you look at his form he's improving and building nicely into it. Everything about what he's doing is getting better and better.

"You don't get any extra points for running quick or doing anything special in the first or second week, it's about getting them into the final and hopefully producing what you need to in the final."

LAUNCHING PAD HEAT 3

Group 3 winner PLAINTIFF (3) was victorious in the third heat of the Group 3 #LaunchingPad (515m) at @sandowndogs in 29.500 seconds for trainer Jason Thompson.

Result ? https://t.co/I5f4u0ZiMm#GreyhoundRacing #PremierRacing @tabcomau pic.twitter.com/yqVS9DjssH

— WatchDog Racing (@WatchDogRacing) March 31, 2022

After winning the maiden final at The Meadows, Plaintiff secured wins at Geelong and Warrnambool before heading into the Launching Pad series.

Despite his winning form, Plaintiff was rated a $101 chance by TAB to win the series.

He led all of the way to win his heat in 29.50 – his first start at the track – and went quicker at each split in his semi-final, overcoming box 5 to win in 29.32.

After coming up with box two for Thursday night's decider, he's been installed the $3.50 second favourite behind favourite Wow She's Fast.

While his improving times and quick splits – he's run 5.05 and 5.02 first splits in the series so far – have pleased Thompson, it's Plaintiff's professionalism that suggests a bright future for the diminutive son of Zambora Brockie.

"He's a good trial dog but his form shows he's a very good race dog. I think it'll be interesting to see where he is at the end of the year because to be doing what he's doing now – even if he doesn't improve – if he can run 5.02, 18.59, 29.30 at Sandown, you're going to be hard to beat.

"He's won from inside and outside, he wants to get to the fence but he's learnt to go straight then cut across. For a dog that's had seven starts he's very professional which is good.

"He's just a good competitive dog, a really good race dog, wants to race, wants to win and is going really well."

Thursday night is the culmination of the three week Launching Pad series at Sandown Park, and will feature two Launching Pad consolations as well as the group 3 Easter Gift.