He may only be six months in the game as a professional jockey but Miles-based Adin Thompson has already tasted a big winner taking out the Birdsville Cup on top weight Blue Jest.
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In a thrilling finish Blue Jest edged out Boggoms by a nose along with the Mount Isa Jay Morris’ trained Expat Envy with those two horses settling for a dead heat in second in the 1600m race.
But the day belonged to Thompson who admitted after the race he has struggled at the start of his fledgling career.
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“It took me a while to get a first win and for a while I didn’t know if I was going to get one,” Thompson said.
“Then I got a couple of wins and started riding doubles every week – and now I come out here and win the Birdsville Cup – it’s unbelievable!”
Punters found it hard to swallow too, in an even field there were six horses all paying under $10 but top weight Blue Jest drifted out to $17 before his great run.
The horse is co-trained by husband and wife team Bevan and Mel Johnson from Miles – where young Thompson is also based – and Bevan said the horse felt good all week.
“They told me you couldn’t win with top weight, and then we drew the worst barrier,” Johnson said.
“I’m going to celebrate tonight, that’s for sure.”
For good measure it was still the same result when Still The Same won the final race for the Johnson – Thompson combination the Brooklands / Fred Brophy BenchMark 65 Handicap over 1400m.
There was better luck for Jay Morris in Race 5 the Innamincka Hotel Benchmark 70 Handicap when Dan Ballard won aboard Morris’s Damgoodchoice.
Morris had three wins over the two-day carnival as did Dan Ballard. Jockeys Keith Ballard and Jason Babarovich also picked up a win on Friday as did trainers Bob Burow and Damien Finter.