The famous Cessnock combination of jockey Robert Thompson, trainer Jeremy Sylvester and rising ten-year-old Youthful King were the heroes of another Cessnock Leagues Club Jungle Juice Cup day last Tuesday.
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Before the largest Jungle Juice crowd in years, Thompson rode his eleventh winner of Cessnock’s flagship event.
For Sylvester (the former baker) it was his eighth win in the Jungle Juice Cup and for the tough-as-teak Youthful King it was an amazing win number four in the famous race.
Youthful King is owned by Cessnock’s Deleis Watson, whose late father Tommy Watson was a horse trainer.
Three of Youthful King’s Jungle Juice Cup wins have been at Cessnock (the 2013 edition was moved to Muswellbrook) and he only needed a bit of luck in the straight; Sylvester gave him the perfect preparation.
Sylvester doesn’t display much emotion but with his wife Carolyn by his side it was obvious that it was a special day.
“It’s been a great day. Three winners and the Quinella in the Jungle Juice Cup – I couldn’t have wished for anything more,” Sylvester said.
“Robert had his doubts about the old horse six months ago so I gave him a break with the Jungle Juice Cup in mind.
“I said last week that Youthful King is going as well as he was last year. He will keep racing and you never know he might be back here next year.
“I owe so much to the late Arthur Thompson who taught me all I know about training. I first started going to Arthur’s stables when I was 14 years old,” Sylvester said.
Sylvester’s other two winners on Cup day, Pinneux and Snappy One, are lightly raced and highly promising.
Thompson singled out Cessnock racecourse manager Steve Tapp for special mention at the presentation.
The Winter Racing Carnival continues at Cessnock on Monday (July 20).
Admission is free and Robert Thompson will be riding in an attempt to improve on his career tally of 4133 winners.
It will be the last meeting at Cessnock for the current season.
Paul Perry and Jeremy Sylvester shared the lead for the Hygain Feeds Trainers Premiership with five wins each, Thompson is on top of the Advertiser Jockeys Premiership with nine wins and Rachel King leads the Cessnock Leagues Club Apprentices Premiership with two wins.
Robert Thompson had little time to bask in the glory of his and trainer Jeremy Sylvester’s historic Jungle Juice victory last Tuesday.
The hall of famer left the Cessnock track at the end of the day’s proceedings for the overnight trip to Grafton for the Northern Rivers feature carnival where successes have come thick and fast.
Thompson kicked off Ramornie day with a great ride to steer Chrysolaus to a second in the top grade Grafton Guineas.
He was shooting for his fifth Ramornie Handicap on favourite I’ve Got The Looks for the Snowden camp which resulted in an unplaced finish.
Grafton Cup day however saw the champion hoop in full flight with a hat-trick of wins in consecutive races.
Shazza’s Bubbles, trained by Ross Stitt kicked off the run taking out the Mother’s Gift for fillies and mares.
Win number two saw the Rod Northam-trained Sargent Doakes relish being back on firm ground to claim the Springboard to Fame feature for 2-year-olds.
Thompson teamed up with Queensland trainer Liam Birchley to claim the next on Terrio Tool.
South Grafton Cup day would have been disappointing for Thompson, who finished a close second on Darci Magic in the main race after his mount hung in over the concluding stages.
In what must be rated an incredible week, even for Thompson, he wrapped up his assignments with a treble at Gunnedah last Friday and further cemented his strong links with the Rod Northam stable at Scone.
Northam trained first starter Oberland in the maiden over 1000; then Solar Kitty also for Northam in the 1600 metres with a big finish on Hot Vinnie in the last of the day, also for Northam.
The end result was that Thompson rode nine winners at six meetings in seven days, a huge commitment by any measure.
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