BROWNIE'S BLOG: THOMPSON SETTING A HOT PACE
By Damian Browne | Tuesday, September 30, 2025
Multiple Group 1 winning jockey Damian Browne might be retired from race riding, but his passion for racing still remains and he now gives back to the industry, offering invaluable mentorship to young apprentices wise enough to take on board his advice. Beyond that, Browne is as insightful as ever when offering his opinion on racing matters, with his knowledge gained from so many years in the saddle leaving him ideally placed to give an informed commentary on many aspects of the game. This is Brownie’s Blog, a blog which is exclusive to HRO.
It is not surprising to see Ben Thompson setting a hot pace on the jockey front, not only in South-East Queensland but nationally.
Thirty winners in the first two months of the season tells its own story. If you need any further perspective on that, those thirty wins has Thompson up as the joint leader on the Australian Jockey Premiership ladder with James McDonald, which is no mean feat in itself.
Obviously, Ben has come back from Hong Kong and has just hit the ground running. He would have learnt a little more over there and matured as a rider and he’s getting the opportunities since coming back and is making the most of them.
He’s an all-around jockey, He talks well. He’s very acceptable to all of the owners. He rides light and he rides well, so he is what a lot of trainers are looking for.
Ben is one of a long and seemingly ever-increasing line of jockeys who have relocated to Queensland in recent years. (Read, amongst others, the likes of Ryan Maloney, Andrew Mallyon, Robbie Dolan, Luke Dempsey Daniel Moor, Rory Hutchings).
I was once in that same boat, coming from New Zealand and setting up here.
People talk about lifestyle and obviously that is a big part of any decision to relocate, but so is the question of what opportunities.
If you haven’t got a big stable supporting you in Melbourne or Sydney it is very difficult to be riding winners.
Essentially, you have got to be riding for two or three of the bigger trainers or else you are missing out. whereas in Brisbane it is a little more open.
Tony Gollan clearly has the biggest hold on it, but otherwise the trainer’s list is very competitive.
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Having said that, the more jockeys that come to Queensland, the tougher the jockey’s room becomes.
That’s a good thing.
You want everybody to earn their rides. You don’t want them getting into a false sense of security when they think the job is theirs … regardless. You always want to be at the top of your game and have people pushing you.
That’s what jockeys moving interstate does. It shakes things up. I think it’s great.
The guys who have come up have all got ability and obviously, having made a big decision, the drive to make it work.
I take my hat off to them. It takes a bit to move your family and all that entails to another place.
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The pre-race Everest puzzle is still being put together and the developments over the next few weeks will be interesting to watch.
It is just so full of moving parts which for the most part, are constantly changing.
For example, two contenders, in theory, have performed below market expectations recently.
The mare that James McDonald rode in the Manikato at Moonee Valley, Lady Shenandoa, who finished third as the clear race favourite … well, I think you can just put a line through that run. Nothing went right for her going around there. I thought her run was outstanding in the circumstances.
Private Harry is another who seemingly failed to fire in The Shorts in similar circumstances when jumping as the $2.15 favourite and losing his unbeaten record.
Private Harry is a horse I have liked for some time, ever since I saw him win at Caloundra in the Glasshouse which was outstanding … and he then went on the win the Galaxy.
He will now have a change of jockey from Ash Morgan who has ridden Private Harry in all six starts to date. I feel sorry for Ash Morgan because he didn’t do anything wrong.
The horse may have just had an off-day unfortunately … he was first-up … but the connections have decided on a change of jockey. Obviously, it is their prerogative to do that, and you can’t blame them for that.
It is just a shame when someone who has done such a great job loses out.
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That is only a couple of examples of the moving parts in The Everest puzzle … but there is also one constant, namely the imperious standing of The Everest race favourite Ka Ying Rising.
The David Hayes trained Hong Kong champion, on face value, does look hard to oppose but, whatever happens, his presence in the race has been important in terms of getting people talking.
If he wasn’t in the race, would there be as much interest in the race, which I think is slightly down in quality, as there is this year?
I’ll let you make your own decision of that.
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