Hall of Fame jockey Robert Thompson only had two rides but both were winning ones, including the feature Summer Cup, at a meeting dominated by visiting gallopers at Taree Wingham Race Club’s TAB meeting on Sunday.
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The only Mid North Coast Racing Association winner was provided by Racing NSW’s apprentice jockeys’ educator, hobby trainer, Mal Fitzgerald, with six-year-old gelding Guided Missile ($13), ridden by Port Macquarie apprentice Jesse Graham, in the Hydra Hose 3YO-and-Upwards Maiden Plate over 1000m.
Thompson’s winners were five-year-old gelding After All That ($4.40) for Scone trainer Rodney Northam in the Hydra Hose 2016 Summer Cup—Benchmark 70 Handicap over 1250m and Western Saga ($17) for Wyong trainer Les Tilley in the Harrington Cup Day—January 5, 3YO and Upward Maiden Handicap over 1300m.
Northam had a winning double at Taree’s last meeting and another double at Scone last week.
He hadn’t been well in the last week but was trackside to celebrate the win after at one stage weighing up whether to scratch After All That and reserve the gelding for another race after it drew the outside barrier of 11.
The gelding held on by a nose from the luckless four-year-old gelding Invincible George ($2.40), trained at Gosford by Kylie Gavenlock, which was aiming for its fourth win at its past six starts.
Northam said he was surprised to get the win after his charge was caught three and four deep.
Northam said now that After All That had won four races from 11 starts he would have to think about whether the gelding is set for The Championships in April.
Western Saga was last of 13 in a race at Scone in October but the big, robust gelding when given wide open space down the outside, relished the situation and scored by 1.5 lengths.
Thompson said of the 17 hands galloper: “He is starting to put it all together… a smart win.”
Tilley admitted Western Saga “went horrible” at Scone but early on the gelding was being beaten by his “greenness”.
Fitzgerald had plenty of congratulations from fellow racing folk after Guided Missile held on for a half-length win.
Two-year-old colt General Sepoy (Sepoy-Miss Independent) ($1.70), a $100,000 purchase, justified his favouritism with a fought out nose win from $110,000 buy, two-year-old colt Uncle Rodriguez (Uncle Mo (USA)-Smoking Sheisha), ($2.70) in a four-horse race in the Santa Comes Early 2YO Handicap over 1000m.
General Sepoy, trained by Kris Lees at Newcastle and ridden by Aaron Bullock, may head for the Magic Millions carnival on the Gold Coast next month.
