Topgun Shelved For Geelong Cup Hero

HOOKED On Scotch has been nominated for Sandown this Thursday with Jason Thompson deciding to shelve a crack at this year’s Topgun.

GEELONG Cup hero Hooked On Scotch has been nominated for Sandown Park this Thursday night with Jason Thompson deciding at the weekend to shelve a crack at this year's Topgun.

A guaranteed starter in the Group 1 invitation at The Meadows by virtue of his mesmerising Adelaide Cup victory, early indications were that the son of Barcia Bale would bypass the race to focus on the Sandown Shootout in preparation for his main aim – the Group 1 TAB Melbourne Cup.

"Had he got beaten at Geelong on Friday night we may have given him a go in the Topgun but after seeing how he went, we'll stick to our initial plan now," Thompson said on Monday.

"We had to nominate one way or another last Thursday so it was better to say yes and then pull him out rather than say no and not have the option to make a call after Friday. I rang (MGRA President) Eddie Caruana on Saturday and asked that he not be considered (for the Topgun)."

Winner at eight of his 12 starts, the 22-month old son of Barcia Bale and Nicki Fields will line-up at Sandown Park this Thursday night as a final hit-out before the four-dog Shootout.

"He needed to go around this Thursday otherwise it would have been three weeks into the Shootout without a run," Thompson added.

"He loves Sandown and the main aim is the Melbourne Cup – he'll get his chance at The Meadows but at the moment it's not his favourite track. I had in my head right the way through that the Topgun was on Cox Plate day like it's always been so I knew it would clash with Geelong. I'll be checking the dates a lot more closely from now on.”

As for Hooked On Scotch's current standing, Thompson is rather emphatic in his response.

"It's hard to think of one that's done what he's done by 22 months," Thompson declared.

"There's dogs that have the engine and you can throw them in at the deep end to either sink or swim. To do what he did on Friday night shows he's right there now."

Hooked On Scotch's withdrawal from Topgun consideration has opened the door for another runner to gain a start in the $150,000 to-the-winner feature, with the final eight runners to be released on the Catching Pen on Tuesday night.

And while Hooked On Scotch won't line-up in the November 8 feature, Thompson will be represented by Black Opium, the daughter of Black Magic Opal chasing that elusive group 1 victory.

"I've trialled her (Black Opium) since the Million Dollar Chase Final and she flew so she's ticking over perfect – she won't start again before the Topgun," Thompson explained.

The expected field for the group 1 invitation has been widely debated. The likely field is expected to comprise Black Opium, Sennachie, Whiskey Riot, Good Odds Harada, Shima Shine, Feral Franky, Barooga Brett and/or Get It Gizmo/Curt Lee.

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