A NIGHT TO REMEMBER FOR BEN THOMPSON

By Graham Potter | Wednesday, March 6, 2024

Ben Thompson is on the scoreboard in Hong Kong.

It was always a given that, as a new addition to the jockey ranks in Hong Kong, Thompson would not walk into instance success.

There was always going to be an adjustment period in his own work, life balance, not to mention the pressure of the elite competition he now faces taking on the likes of Zac Purton and Karis Teetan in their own backyard, so, in effect, it didn’t matter how long it took before that first victory arrived ... what was important is that Thompson made that happen.

Thompson’s forty-ninth ride, aboard the Jamie Richards trained 40-1 chance Courier Magic was Thompson’s first winner since leaving the comfort of the Queensland racing scene, where he was established in the highest tier of riders ... and it was a result to be celebrated, as it was not just in Hong Kong, but by Thompson's substantial support base in Australia.

“It’s taken three weeks, but it is extremely rewarding to ride a winner here,” said a beaming Thompson in a post-race interview at Happy Valley.

“It’s truly surreal and I don’t think it will sink in straight away, but it is a huge thrill ... and a big thanks to Jamie Richards, the connections and his entire team.

“Obviously, whether you are starting off in Australia or an ex-pat going to a new country ... all you want to do is ride winners, but no winner comes easy ... so I didn’t expect anything to be too easy here in the most competitive racing jurisdiction coming up against some of the best riders in the world.

‘I have captured my first winner, but what I have learned over these last three-and-a-half weeks ... just watching the other riders ... dealing with the trainers, seeing how they train ... it seems like months worth of experience and training in a matter of three-and-a-half weeks.

“It has been amazing, and I am truly grateful for the opportunity.”

As per his usual high professional standard, Thompson knew the form of Courier Magic backwards going into the race and he was spot on, precise and articulate when asked about his pre-race level of confidence in his long-priced mount.

“It gave me confidence that he was a fit horse. In his last six starts he has had barrier nine or wider ... here he was barrier three. In between runs and they put blinkers on, and he looked to be improved with blinkers, so that also gave me confidence.

“The fitness ... the barrier ... and obviously riding for such an astute trainer as Jamie Richards, it all gave me confidence.,

“He did need everything to go right in the race and thankfully it did.”

More articles