Robert Thompson turned back time, 31 years to be exact, to win the rich Coffs Harbour Cup on star middle distance performer Southern Shimmer last Thursday.
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Thompson was seen at his consummate best on the 7-year-old gelding who burst through to win a close finish from the Chris Waller-trained Disciple with Single Spirit third.
The win further cemented the close ties Thompson has with veteran Taree trainer Ross Stitt with their association going back some 33 years.
Thompson said after the race he was able to get Southern Shimmer to settle midfield and relax before finding room in the closing stages to rein in the leaders.
He said he was especially excited for Stitt and the connections. Winning cups such as that at Coffs Harbour were like group one victories to him and this victory was very special.
Southern Shimmer’s win marked a brave comeback for the gelding who had been off the scene with a tendon trouble for 22 months and had just one run back for a second at Scone on July 18.
Thompson’s only other Coffs Harbour Cup win was back in 1983 on Justkez and last year he finished second on Single Spirit, also trained by Stitt, who finished third this year.
The cup win brought up a treble for the champ after earlier successes on rank outsider Abisarika and then a dead heat on the Jeremy Sylvester-trained Azzalin, a $4.20 chance who was coming off an 11-lengths defeat at Cessnock on July 2.
Many punters, including race commentators, thought Azzalin would prevail in the close finish but the photo finish camera could not split Azzalin and Lucky Meteor.
Earlier on in the program, Thompson guided $26 outsider Abisarika to a nose win with the winner paying $22.50 on the NSW TAB.
The winner, trained at Cranbourne by Geon Singh, had finished sixth in a Lismore barrier trial prior to the win after a 75-day let up.
Jeremy Sylvester would have been pleased with his trip up north with Jungle Juice winner Youthful King running out of his skin to finish second in the feature sprint of the day, beaten one and three quarter lengths by the heavily backed winner Danesri.
Thompson also made his presence felt on the opening day of the big Coffs Harbour carnival with two winners and three minor placings.
His first winner on the day was on top staying prospect Samsilli in the 2300 Reg Kermode-Ken Howard Cup. Thompson steered the gelding to a six lengths victory in a win that promises more success in better company.
His second winner was on the Steven Lee-trained The Black Ferri who was resuming for the new stable after more than a year off the scene.
Thompson was renewing acquaintances on the gelding having won on him twice previously. Thompson also picked up three thirds, including the minor placing on Al Nova, of which his mother Phyllis and other family members share a partnership.
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The recent flood of media attention on champion jockey Robert Thompson could have led omen punters to backing his winner at the two-day Cairns Cup meeting in North Queensland.
Thompson scored a solid win on Inside Page, trained out of Atherton by Janel Ryan. The 4-year-old gelding has won three from 14 starts and gave Thompson his only winner up north.
He finished fourth in the cup on Seafight, a 9-year-old gelding, also trained by Ryan who he won the cup on last year. Despite just the one winner, Thompson finished second on four occasions on the first day of the carnival.
