Ben is hoping to bounce back from his ban in winning fashion
JOCKEY Ben Thompson returns to Saturday racing at Doomben this weekend, keen to move on from his dramatic suspension which saw him rubbed out a month.
But he believes the time off may have done him the world of good.
The popular lightweight rider was quick to get away from racing following the suspension, which came after stewards found him guilty for causing a fall at Ipswich involving Sacred Oath, a horse part-owned by the late Shane Warne.
Thompson said he’s glad to have it all behind him as he looks forward to a strong book of rides at Doomben on the eve of the winter carnival.
“I was off for four weeks and I had a couple weeks off trackwork too,” he said. “Not that I wanted the time off but the best thing I did was take a bit of a break, I was able to head to Melbourne for a few days and catch up with my family.
“It is good to be able to start fresh, it is all behind me and the timing could have been much worse because I’m back for the winter carnival.
“I’m a big believer in all things happen for a reason and not that you ever want to be sidelined, I’m hoping the time off will benefit me going forward.
“The main thing is Ryan (Maloney) is OK, he was able to drive himself home and Sacred Oath came out as well, in the grand scheme of things, that is all that matters.”
Headlining Thompson’s rides on Saturday is the Steve O’Dea and Matt Hoysted-trained Canadian Dancer, who has been well backed in the Listed Princess Stakes (1640m).
“I really like her, I rode her at Ipswich and the Sunshine Coast, she was super winning at Ipswich, then we drew wide at the Sunny Coast and she was exposed a long way from home,” he said.
“She is stepping up to Listed grade but it looks a really nice task for her.”
It comes as Thompson made a flying trip north to Rockhampton on Thursday to ride for Victorian trainer Frankie Stockdale, who owns Boom Time Baby.
“He (Stockdale) actually taught me how to ride,” Thompson said.
“She only ended up beating one home, she missed the start and after 50m I was four lengths off them, it was all over after three strides.”