THOMPSON EYEING FEATURE RACE SUCCESS AT ELLERSLIE

By Graham Potter | Friday, March 6, 2026

Jockey Ben Thompson once again travels to New Zealand this weekend where he will have a full book of rides on Champions Day at Ellerslie on Saturday, a set of rides which includes going up against New Zealand’s star performer in the big one, the NZ $4 million NZB Kiwi.

“She gave me wind-burn when she went past me.”

That was jockey Ben Thompson’s description of the fleeting close-up view he had of Stephen Marsh’s star filly Well Written when she flashed past Thompson and his mount War Princess on her way to a superb fifth successive win in the Karaka Millions (3YO).

Thompson had ridden War Princess to perfection that day, holding a rails run throughout and staying in contention until he, like every other horse and rider in the race, were reduced to mere spectators as Well Written turned a four length deficit at the top of the straight into an emphatic victory by a six length margin.

On Saturday Thompson will again be opposing Well Written in the NZ$4 million NZB Kiwi, this time aboard the Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson trained La Dorada, who was the $9 second favourite behind Well Written in the Karaka Millions.

La Dorada is a horse that Thompson did have more of a close look at during the running of the Karaka Millions as the filly raced together with Thompson’s War Princess for much of the running with these two runners finishing right alongside each other when they crossed the line.

“There is nothing like competing against the best … albeit it makes all of our jobs harder again to beat her (Well Written) after she drew barrier two,” said Thompson.

“My filly, La Dorada, is well performed. She had to wait for Well Written to go before getting clear last time. It wouldn’t have made any difference to winning or losing, but she attacked the line really hard.

“She’s got a great record at Ellerslie. She’s got barrier six which looks kind … she finished third to Well Written last time, she is a Group 1 winner, so she ticks a lot of boxes.

“Having said that, on past form and as the markets are suggesting, it looks like Well Written’s race to lose, but it is a horse race and I’m on a good one.”

Travelling from his Brisbane base, Thompson already has a big win in New Zealand to his name this year having taken out the Karaka Millions (2YO) aboard Dream Roca and, while he and La Dorada will undoubtedly give their all, against the odds, in the NZB Kiwi, Thompson also has rides, amongst others, in the NZ 1.5 million New Zealand Derby, the NZ $1 million Bonecrusher and the $600 000 Auckland Cup to try to stake his claim.

“I’ve got Geneva in the Derby … it’s bloody hard. It takes a good horse to win a Derby,” said Thompson.

“He generally races on the speed, tends to make his own luck, but you’ve got another Yulong horse in the race … Autumn Glory, who finished second to Ohope Wins in New Zealand Oaks, who could be hard to beat, and I also have a lot of respect for Sam Collett’s mount That’s Gold, who will be looking for a third successive feature race win. They are in-form horses.

“I ride Tuxedo in the Bonecrusher … a really nice horse,” offered Thompson. “Was a good winner on Karaka day. Then, last time (when finishing fifth in a Group 1 over 1600m) he might have been a bit unsuited by the slow tempo. It favoured those closer to the speed in that race.”

Thompson doesn’t take the full book of rides for granted.

“I’m getting great support. I’m very privileged to get these opportunities and I try to make the most of them,” acknowledged Thompson.

“I love my job.”