One of the biggest days in racing for trainer Adam Wadick was tempered by his mentor and Crown Lodge pioneer Vic Thompson being in hospital after a heart attack on Wednesday.
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The only horse in the Wadick stable, Big Arty, delivered only his second win as a trainer and first in the city, but his thoughts were away from the track.
"There is a lot of Vic in this bloke and I wouldn't be here without him," said Wadick, who fought back tears as he talked of Thompson.
"When I heard the news this morning I didn't want to come but we have planned to be here.
"I have been working with Vic a bit with a couple of horses and it has been like the old days.
"This has brightened up the day but my thoughts are with Vic and his family."
Thompson, who recently started to train a few horses again had a heart attack on Wednesday morning and was on life support with his family by side, including leading trainer John.
Thompson was the trainer for Bob and Jack Ingham before John Hawkes and Peter Snowden and set up the structure for Crown Lodge, which was named after good sprinter Crown Jester.
Meanwhile, Melbourne Cup and Golden Slipper-winning jockey Blake Shinn is determined to clear his name after being given a one-month suspension for failing to take all reasonable and permissible measures on Thud earlier in the month.
Racing NSW stewards found fault with four aspects of Shinn's ride when Thud flew home after being held up until the 100-metre mark to run fourth to Butterboom at Rosehill on June 18.
Chief steward Marc Van Gestel pointed to a run that presented itself to the outside turning for home, when Shinn opted to ride for luck through the field.
Of more concern to stewards were Shinn's actions between the 200m and 100m mark when he failed to take a run to the outside of Bonete, which he had followed for most of the race.
He flicked across heels at 100m before charging home. Stewards charged Shinn with not showing "sufficient purpose and vigour" in trying to take the run to the outside from switching back.
Shinn lodged his appeal with Racing NSW on Wednesday.
"I'm one of the hardest-working jockeys in the field, I don't want this charge damaging my reputation," Shinn said.
"I'm proud of my clean record and I don't think I have done anything wrong on this occasion."
Shinn will ride Thud at its next start at Rosehill on Saturday and has the full support of the Peter and Paul Snowden stable, who appeared with him at Tuesday's inquiry.
