‘First of many’ crowns
Thompson hopes premiership is just start
UP-AND-COMING apprentice Adin Thompson is proud to win his first, of what is sure to be many, jockeys’ premierships at a track that he has received so much support at.
The 17-year-old will share the 2018-19 Cairns Jockey Club jockeys’ premiership with experienced rider Chris Whiteley, both running home 12 winners for the just completed season.
Thompson, who has been riding for two years, picked up his 12 winners at Cannon Park at a strike-rate of 44 per cent, while Whiteley rode his 12 at 23 per cent.
“This is the first jockeys’ premiership I have won since I have started riding so it is great to pick it up,” the Brisbanebased Thompson said.
“When I have come to Cairns, I have been given great support from all the local trainers that have put me on.
“I have to thank Stephen Massingham as he was a big supporter of mine when I travelled to Cairns.
“Hopefully this can be the first of many I can win.”
Local apprentice hoop Amanda Thomson finished third on the jockeys’ premiership, two winners behind the co-winners.
In the trainers’ premiership, Townsville Cup winner Massingham was a comfortable winner, four ahead of Tolga horseman Roy Chillemi, with 17 for the season.
Chillemi and Massingham shared the trainers’ premiership last season.
Massingham’s bay gelding Lattimer won horse of the year, picking up four winners for the season, one ahead of stablemates Snowy Moet and The Harrovian.
Elsewhere, trainer Ricky Vale is in the north with his eyes on the Cairns Newmarket this Saturday but he is also bullish about his chances at his home track this afternoon.
Vale starts Djebel Ready and The Full Monty across the seven race program from Rockhampton Jockey Club today. “They both have been working good,” Vale said.
“I think we will see a lot of improvement out of Djebel Ready, she has been working very nice.
“Her form does not suggest she will do anything but I would not be surprised if she does not at least run a placing.”
Apprentice jockey Elyce Smith, an occasional Far North visiting rider, takes the ride of two-year-old brown filly Djebel Ready, who is having her first start at Rockhampton after previously around Toowoomba. Vale has leading contender Mr Attitude in Saturday’s $75,000 Newmarket at Cannon Park. ■ Meanwhile, Cairns jockey Michael Murphy hit a patch of form on Tuesday at Mackay, riding two winners across the seven race card. The now Brisbane-based Murphy rode a race-to-race double aboard Sensation Ally and El Shaday.
Murphy went close to picking up a midweek Mackay treble as the Michael Geaneytrained Profound Choice ran second in the last of the day.
The talented Murphy rode at the Sunshine Coast yesterday and will remain in the south, riding at Doomben this coming Saturday afternoon, instead of flying north for the first day of the Cairns carnival.