Serial speedster Flash Jet has confirmed his status as the number one seed for the Ladbrokes Thunderbolt after another breathtaking performance for trainer Johnny Grief.
The rising two-year-old was superb in Wednesday night’s Richmond heats of the $40,000 feature, pouncing on the arm early and never looking troubled in a resounding 17.86 victory.
Flash Jet beating home Crazed by three lengths in a statement win ahead of the June 16 semi-finals.
“He’s a good pup. He’s broken 18 seconds at Richmond nine times now, and he’s only had 20 starts for 15 wins and four placings so he’s consistent as well,” Grief said.
“He was nominated for the Grafton heats on Sunday but he’ll come out of those now which is a good thing. I think those fields will be stronger than the semi-finals so I’m happy he’s safely through.”
“We will take Our Mumma Jo up though and Flash Jet will have an exhibition trial on the track as well. I know there’s a lot of good dogs still left in the series but I don’t think any of them have track records.”
Flash Jet is a son of Sennachie x Pick It Up and is owned by Grief and his mother, Joanne Zammit
Grief also suggesting a key change to the race series in 2026.
“I love the Thunderbolt, I think it’s terrific….but I think the whole series should be at Grafton,” Grief added.
“Put on eight heats up there, followed by the semis and the final. I don’t think we have the number of dogs to run the regional qualifiers anymore and that’s shown across other races like the Country Classic as well.”
Grief will be hoping to make a third straight final of the Ladbrokes Thunderbolt after Running Reds made appearances for the kennel in the 2022 and 2023 deciders.
In the night’s other heat, Crimson Dynamo came from a seemingly hopeless position to score from Grid Girl in a moderate time of 18.33.
Grid Girl (L) and Crimson Dynamo after qualifying for the Ladbrokes Thunderbolt semi-finals
At Goulburn on Friday, Serial Sticker took out the opening heat in a sharp time of 19.62 for Michelle Sultana and Darryl Thomas.
The former Victorian flying around the Goulburn 350m circuit for the first time on his way to a comfortable 2.5 length win over Be Wowed.
"He came up specifically for this race and he arrived in perfect condition from Brendan Pursell," Thomas said.
"He's been with us about three weeks, we gave him a trial at Goulburn last Friday and he went 19.53 but it he got great conditions. Today he knocked the start up a bit and it was pretty cold down there."
"If he pulls up well, we might try and get up to Grafton for a look but there is a chance we could go up there blind for the semi-finals. He's been all over the world in his short career this dog, he's been to Hobart, all around Victoria and now NSW, he's a pretty nice animal."
Group 1 Dapto Megastar placegetter, Harmony Fire, won the second preliminary for Neil Staines, fending off Shrewd Ethics in a time of 19.87.
"She has been set for this race so we're happy with that run. She might have been a little bit flat because she came back from a 500m so if I can freshen her up a bit she could find a bit more," Staines said.
"She needs to step up to the plate because there's nowhere to hide at Grafton...but she has been to the track before so she's ticked that box."
"This could be her last preparation with the owner thinking about sending her to the breeding barn. She's out of that nice Tears line [a half-sister to Trapper and Trooper Tears] so she'll be a good breeder I hope."
The series continues over the weekend with further heats at Dubbo and The Gardens (Saturday) and Grafton (Sunday).
The semi-finals of the $40,000 Ladbrokes Thunderbolt will be run at Grafton on Sunday, June 15, with the final to be held at Grafton on Saturday, June 21.
