Latest news with #baby luck
The Australian
09-08-2025
- Sport
- The Australian
Ben Thompson makes incredible return to Brisbane racing after Hong Kong stint
With a phenomenal strike rate since his much-anticipated return from Hong Kong, Brisbane jockey and new dad Ben Thompson is clinging to 'baby luck' for as long as he can. Before Friday's meeting at Ipswich, Thompson had won a superb seven of his previous 14 starts as he crushed any doubts on whether he would hit the ground running after his 18-month stint in Asia's racing mecca. • PUNT LIKE A PRO: Become a Racenet iQ member and get expert tips – with fully transparent return on investment statistics – from Racenet's team of professional punters at our Pro Tips section. SUBSCRIBE NOW! His wife and former jockey Stephanie gave birth last month to little Lucy, who joins his brother Harry as part of a family with racing coursing through their veins. 'A good friend of mine is a big believer in newborns bringing luck,' Thompson said on Friday. 'It felt like that happened the first time around with our little boy and our little girl, she's so far brought the same. 'We'll be holding on to the baby luck for as long as we can.' • Nervous trainer confident short-priced Razors will be cut above Of course, Thompson is being typically humble because the top trainers and connections know that sublime talent, hard work and thorough preparation are behind the 28-year-old's incredible streak since he started riding again in Brisbane last Saturday. Last season in Hong Kong, Thompson produced nine winners but after just 22 rides in southeast Queensland before Friday's Ipswich meeting, he had already jagged eight victories. Four of those triumphs came at the Sunshine Coast last Sunday – his equal best haul at Corbould Park – and then he delivered three straight wins at Doomben last Wednesday. 'I couldn't have expected on day two back at the races to have four winners and then a treble on day three,' said Thompson, who once rode five winners at Doomben. 'It's been a super resumption to racing here but it isn't possible without a wide variety of trainers and owners who have made it happen. 'I'm turning up well prepared and things really fell into place those days.' Jockey Ben Thompson with wife Stephanie and their boy Harry. Thompson hopes that his wife Stephanie, who 'can't wait to get back on a horse', will join him on the racetrack in the near future but with plenty on her plate at home, there's no need to rush. • Justice can be served for husband and wife in Townsville Cup 'If she does come back she'll have no trouble riding winners,' he said. 'My wife is doing an amazing job. 'The four of us have found a new routine and we've got plenty of help around us, with the majority of Steph's family being in Queensland. 'We're blessed to have the support that we do so it's all going along perfectly.' A strong book of rides for six different trainers on Saturday is clear evidence of the huge demand for a jockey in a purple patch of form. Bookmakers have rated his best chances at Eagle Farm as being Razors (race 2, $1.50), Caspernova (R4, $3.20), Boomshanka (R6, $3.70) and Amur (R7, $5.50).
News.com.au
08-08-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Ben Thompson makes incredible return to Brisbane racing after Hong Kong stint
With a phenomenal strike rate since his much-anticipated return from Hong Kong, Brisbane jockey and new dad Ben Thompson is clinging to 'baby luck' for as long as he can. Before Friday's meeting at Ipswich, Thompson had won a superb seven of his previous 14 starts as he crushed any doubts on whether he would hit the ground running after his 18-month stint in Asia's racing mecca. His wife and former jockey Stephanie gave birth last month to little Lucy, who joins his brother Harry as part of a family with racing coursing through their veins. 'A good friend of mine is a big believer in newborns bringing luck,' Thompson said on Friday. 'It felt like that happened the first time around with our little boy and our little girl, she's so far brought the same. 'We'll be holding on to the baby luck for as long as we can.' Of course, Thompson is being typically humble because the top trainers and connections know that sublime talent, hard work and thorough preparation are behind the 28-year-old's incredible streak since he started riding again in Brisbane last Saturday. Last season in Hong Kong, Thompson produced nine winners but after just 22 rides in southeast Queensland before Friday's Ipswich meeting, he had already jagged eight victories. A Doomben treble for @BenThompson2102 as Whispering Rogue wins with ease! 🤩 @BrisRacingClub @munceracing — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) August 6, 2025 Four of those triumphs came at the Sunshine Coast last Sunday – his equal best haul at Corbould Park – and then he delivered three straight wins at Doomben last Wednesday. 'I couldn't have expected on day two back at the races to have four winners and then a treble on day three,' said Thompson, who once rode five winners at Doomben. 'It's been a super resumption to racing here but it isn't possible without a wide variety of trainers and owners who have made it happen. 'I'm turning up well prepared and things really fell into place those days.' Thompson hopes that his wife Stephanie, who 'can't wait to get back on a horse', will join him on the racetrack in the near future but with plenty on her plate at home, there's no need to rush. 'If she does come back she'll have no trouble riding winners,' he said. 'My wife is doing an amazing job. 'The four of us have found a new routine and we've got plenty of help around us, with the majority of Steph's family being in Queensland. 'We're blessed to have the support that we do so it's all going along perfectly.' A strong book of rides for six different trainers on Saturday is clear evidence of the huge demand for a jockey in a purple patch of form. Bookmakers have rated his best chances at Eagle Farm as being Razors (race 2, $1.50), Caspernova (R4, $3.20), Boomshanka (R6, $3.70) and Amur (R7, $5.50).
