TEN QUESTIONS ... WITH BEN THOMPSON

By Graham Potter | Sunday, August 9, 2026

The 2025/26 Brisbane Jockey’s Premiership winner Ben Thompson is a humble, quietly spoken, consummate professional who understands the good fortune he has enjoyed, both professionally and personally, and who roundly acknowledges the part played in his success by others. Whether in the role of family man or champion jockey, Thompson always displays an impressive touch of humility. On track and off-track, Thompson conducts himself in manner which should serve as a behavioural role-model for young riders looking to earn respect as they make their way through the industry. It can only be good for racing when a Premiership winner exhibits so many impressive traits. Here, Thompson joins HRO’s Graham Potter in HRO’s new segment, TEN QUESTIONS WITH …

GP: Let’s start with the Brisbane Jockey’s Premiership. Would it be fair to say, ‘Mission Accomplished?’ Was that in fact a particular goal of yours when you came back from Hong Kong?

BT: It was in the back of our minds. Obviously, every jockey wants to lead their state, I did travel quite a bit during the season … I’m never opposed to travelling and happy to go anywhere for an opportunity … but then, off the back of travelling, which sort of finished up at the start of April, then all of our attentions focussed on trying to win the Premiership. The Sunshine Coast and Ipswich Premierships came along as well … so it was quite an amazing season.

GP: Yet for all of that though, ending on 99.5 metropolitan winners in Queensland was a bit cruel. I know there are lot of close finishes, some of which would have gone your way, but the final outcome shows that your closest result of all … a dead-heat … ultimately denied you that magical 100 winner mark. How do you feel about that?

BT: Well, my manager says my metropolitan win in Sydney counts … and I had two winners at Ellerslie as well, but, nonetheless, in my own back yard it is still 99.5 winners, so it pushes us to try and crack a hundred this season.

GP: Some punters like to point out that top jockeys get the best rides and that’s why they get the bulk of the winners, but, while that is true to a point, to earn those rides is a tough journey in its own right … and then you have to keep getting results to maintain that position which obviously brings pressure of its own, both physically and mentally. Your thoughts on that?

BT: I feel like I have got the right balance for what I need to be able to prepare well … and to stay consistent … a balance that is equally important for the mind as it is for the body. I had less rides over the last month of the season. With the arrival of our third child, for five weeks, I wanted to be home to be able to help out more often. Generally, though, I am grateful to get a lot of opportunities and support, so I take as many rides as I can.

GP: Let’s look at some specifics with regard to the workload you carried last season. You had 602 metropolitan rides and 303 provincial rides … that’s 905 rides for the season … and that’s only in Queensland. You could break that down to roughly seventy five race rides a month, nineteen rides a week … then there is riding work. Whichever way you look at it that translates into a very solid and committed work-ethic. What are the key points that helps gets you through that?

BT: It’s the old story of … if you love what you do you never have to do a day’s work in your life. Also, we often hear of a jockey or a sportsman needing an outlet … and the family is definitely that for me. We’ve just got such a good team around us.

GP: Talking family … a wife who used to be a jockey. a father-in-law who is a trainer and with two brothers-in-law who are jockeys, is there any time when you sit around the table and you don’t talk racing?

BT: We do sort of catch-up regularly enough … dinner or lunch, what have you … but racing is our work and our lifestyle, so it gets the most attention, but now with the kids … the kids play a big part in things … and then the AFL is the next conversation in line.

GP: It’s been a very busy season for you as we’ve just discussed. Are there any moments that standout as hghlights?

BT: My first week back in the saddle in Queensland (after Hong Kong) was a real highlight. I had a win on my first day back riding … I think it was August 2, the first Saturday of the season … then I had four winners at the next meeting and then three winners at the meeting after that. I was obviously receiving good support, but to hit the target often so quickly when I first got back was really vital for me in terms of setting up a good season, so that was very satisfying.

Other highlights would be winning the Gateway on Tuned, that was great … the Karaka Million on Dream Roca in New Zealand … winning the Percy Sykes on Cherry Blossom in Sydney … winning on Uncommon James in a Group 2 over the Winter Carnival, that was also very special … and then also riding multiple winners on a card. I get a really good kick out of doing that. So, yeah, I’m fortunate … there have been many highlights.

GP: And any moments you could have done without?

BT: I had a poor runs of suspensions until year’s end 2025. I had three suspensions which kept me out of the summer for five weeks. That was obviously my own fault and showed me obvious areas I that I needed to work on … but a suspension is only ever a lesson … a reminder that you need to improve.

GP: The Hong Kong experience itself. Did it help set you up for your Premiership drive and, if so, how?

BT: It goes without saying that Hong Kong is one of the most competitive jockey rooms in the world. So, I think that, in itself, held me in good stead … competing and rubbing shoulders with some of the world’s elite jockeys. I do feel I was a lot better for that experience, like many before me. It forces you to be sharper … you need to be sharper there to get rides in the first place, let alone to ride a winner. I’m obviously always looking to improve and there is no better way to do that, or quicker way, than spending time in Hong Kong.

GP: Looking forward now, do you set goals or just work at getting those three winners on a day if you can and take it from there, one day at a time?

BT: I like to just keep it simple and prepare well. As we go along, I might then set goalposts up and target things as certain numbers become possible.

GP: Looking back, what a ride it has been. You came to Queensland following Steph, the love of your life. A marriage, three kids and a Premiership later. Things don’t get much better than that. I guess you just love it when a plan comes together?

BT: Ah, it has been incredible. We are blessed I can tell you that. Steph moved to Queensland at the end of July 2019 and I’ve been in Queensland, including those eighteen months in Hong Kong, since August 2020 … so, it’s just about to tick over to six years. It feels like we have been in Queensland a lot longer. We absolutely love it up here and relocating to Queensland has been the best move both of us have made.

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