PRINCE OF BOOM GOES BANG!

By Graham Potter | Sunday, May 16, 2021

You will have to go a long way to find someone riding in better form than Ben Thompson at the moment.

A treble at the Doomben 10 000 meeting on Saturday, which included a Group 2 win aboard the Robert Heathcote trained Prince Of Boom in the Champagne Classic, took Thompson into fourth place on the Brisbane Jockeys’ Premiership ladder … a notable effort in his first season in the Sunshine State.

The focal point of Thompson’s treble was the win aboard Prince Of Boom. The Spirit Of Boom Two-Year-Old was on a six day back-up after winning on debut on a heavy 8 over 1000m at the Sunshine Coast the previous Sunday.

On the quick back-up, jumping in class from Maiden to a Group 2 and stepping up in distance from 1000m to 1200m … there were a few boxes that Prince Of Boom would have to have to tick if he was going to take this one out but, not only did he win the Champagne Classic, but he did it in an emphatic fashion making a real statement as he strode away to a clear-cut 2.50 length victory.

“He performed the way we hope he would,” said Thompson, “but obviously you can be as ambitious as you like but they still have to perform … and he was super.

“We knew he was pretty special on his trials leading up to the race. Sunday (the Maiden win) really put the writing on the wall. We knew he was good but … wow. (Prince Of Boom’s winning margin on debut was 4.80 lengths).

“He had a pretty quiet week at home since that win. When I rode him during the week, he felt no different. He felt good, but obviously you don’t know until you ask for a bit of race pressure … but he was super. It couldn’t have been any better.

“Character-wise, Prince Of Boom is very quiet. He takes everything in his stride. Even on Saturday in only his second start … it was a big crowd, the middle of the day, but it didn’t faze him at all.

“The fact that he has got such a laid-back attitude I think gives him that little bit extra. There are so many horses that can gallop, but how many can lose their marbles on the day or get overawed by the occasion.

“He just takes it in his stride, but he knows what his job is. He can wake up when it is time to gallop. When those gates open he knows what he is there to do.

“There is definitely two of him. I cantered him during the week and he is just so laid back … he knows he is just out there to tick over. Then, when the race is on, he is all business.

“On Saturday he jumped away super. I knew we were going to have a nice run from barrier one. The chances seemed to be drawn around us.

“Maotai, who had drawn barrier two, ended up being a late scratching. It had jumped and led and won its first start and I thought it would probably be in front of me and give me a really nice run into the race.

“Then Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young’s horse (See You In The Spring), who had two wins and two starts … both leading over 1000m … had drawn barrier three and I thought it would be forward as well, giving me another nice one to follow.

“King Kapa was another one that I thought probably was going to forward from his wide draw … so I had those two horses (King Kapa and See You In The Spring) in front of me when the field settled down. My only goal that stage was to have Prince Of Boom really settle … which he did. I thought as long as switches off and travels well … he’ll have a kick at the end.

“From the time we straightened, I stayed towards the inside where no other winner had come from by race five … I just thought I’m going so good here, I’ll just cut the corner and then just come out to better ground … and he bolted in.

"When a horse accelerates like that it is an unreal feeling. There are no words to describe it. I got a bit excited. I thought I’m not going to move on him, but I did let out a scream coming up to the line.

“There was a big entourage of owners at the track … as there was the previous Sunday which made it all the better. As soon as I came in after the win last Sunday, when he won by nearly five lengths, the first thing I said was, ‘That was fun.’ And, obviously, the same applied to Saturday.

“That’s what he is … great fun to ride … and hopefully he can keep performing the way he has already!”

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