International riding great Brent Thomson back riding trackwork for the Ciaron Maher camp at the age of 66

The benefits of a significant lifestyle change have led a former international riding legend back into the saddle to ride for champion trainer Ciaron Maher at the age of 66.

Former champion jockey Brent Thomson has been riding work at Ciaron Maher's Fingal property after a 24-year sabbatical. Picture: New Zealand Bloodstock/Twitter.

Giving up the drink and German machinery have helped a riding legend back into the saddle at the age of 66.

Former star international jockey Brent Thomson has been riding work for top trainer Ciaron Maher for the last few weeks after spending 24 years without riding a horse.

Thomson said he once had no ambition to again ride a horse after retiring following a brilliant career in New Zealand, Australia and across the globe.

But he said giving up alcohol had changed his worldview while a fitness regime improved his physical condition, convincing Thomson he could ride work.

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“I haven’t had a drink for 17 months and don’t intend to again,” Thomson said.

“In that 17 months, your thought process changes quite drastically and it opens certain avenues to other areas of life. The basics of riding again is sobriety.

“I do a thing called Kieser Training. It’s a German fitness program and it’s all based on machines.

“I’ve done that for some time and I started that because of older injuries. It’s all about strength and all about the core without banging on about it too much.”

Legendary jockey, and our very own NZB Representative Brent Thomson has been enjoying a return to the saddle with the @cmaherracing team lately. 👏🏻

He still has it … or so he tells us! 😎 🏇🏻 pic.twitter.com/WRwJo0JM7o

— New Zealand Bloodstock (@KarakaChat) April 10, 2024

Thomson regained the riding bug after riding one of Maher’s horses at a Melbourne beach in the spring.

The four-time Cox Plate-winning rider said he increased his efforts, including securing a Racing Victoria trackwork rider’s licence, once his busiest period of the year passed.

Thomson said he now rides multiple horses when he is at Fingal but will ride work at the hectic Cranbourne Training Centre in the coming weeks.

Brent Thomson after winning the 1979 Cox Plate on Dulcify.

“The most I’ve done at Fingal in a morning is four,” Thomson said.

“I’ve done three but they have three or four work riders there. At the moment, I’m just riding nice, quiet horses and it’s been most enjoyable. I did all the right protocols with Racing Victoria in terms of riding out.

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“That means I can ride out at Cranbourne and in maybe a week or two weeks, I might be riding slow work on the track.

“I’ll get up to a stage where I’m riding the odd one in a gallop as well. What is quite nice, because Cranbourne is such a big hub with all the jocks there, it creates a bit of banter.”

⁦@cmaherracing⁩ I ✈️ back from Sydney last Night to work the unbeaten Skiing in his prep for The famous Warrnambool meeting - sadly a bit early in my prep but I will be there to see him compete 👍👀🤣 pic.twitter.com/v7t6YigKLh

— Brent Thomson (@dulcifybp) April 9, 2024

Thomson has been happy to engage in social media jokes about him returning to race riding in recent weeks.

However, he ruled out any comeback to race riding, preferring to hop on horses in early mornings for pleasure.

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“Some people thought I was making a comeback – but I’m not,” Thomson said.

“It’s one thing riding for pleasure but another to do all that (race riding) again.

“The ultimate goal is just to get to a nice fitness level.”

Thomson’s other goal might be to take a few more bucks off his opponents on the golf course with the extra fitness.

“I believe it (riding) has helped the golf game as well. My form is pretty good at the moment,” Thomson joked.

Originally published as International riding great Brent Thomson back riding trackwork for the Ciaron Maher camp at the age of 66