John Thompson chasing Kembla Grange double on Gong day as belated 50th birthday present
Randwick trainer John Thompson is hoping for a couple of belated birthday presents at Kembla on Saturday.
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Randwick trainer John Thompson celebrated his 50th birthday last week and on Saturday he’s hoping his team can give him a couple of belated presents at Kembla.
Thompson’s the first to admit the stable hasn’t had the best start to the 2023/24 season and he plans to end a city winning drought with his two runners at the Kembla stand-alone meeting.
Thompson will saddle-up the consistent With Your Blessing and the talented prospect Crafty Eagle.
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With Your Blessing will get the blinkers for the first time when he runs in the Evergreen Turf Benchmark 78 Handicap (1200m).
Third-up from a spell, the five-year-old Vadamos gelding is set to peak after taking good improvement from the first two runs of the campaign.
“He was out of action for quite a while after suffering an injury at trackwork,” Thompson said.
“I thought he’s come on enough second-up to improve but he surprised me a bit because he puffed up after the run.
“He just got a bit tired late but with hindsight, he still needed the run.
“I can tell the difference with him between that run and this run, he’s really come on and there won’t be any fitness excuses on Saturday.
“Combine that with the blinkers going on and they are two factors we’re hoping will make the difference on Saturday.”
Golden Eagle winning jockey Josh Parr continues his association with With Your Blessing while Sydney premiership leading rider Tyler Schiller will partner the stable Crafty Eagle when the gelding resumes in the ABAX Contracting Benchmark 78 Handicap (1400m).
Crafty Eagle resumes with two trials under the belt.
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Last preparation the son of Starcraft was luckless in the Group 3 Winx Guineas in Queensland before again having no luck when second in the Grafton Guineas.
“He’s had a good break but he deserved it,” Thompson said.
“He’s going better than ever.
“I think the travelling around has done him the world of good. He seems to have matured this time in.
“Now it’s a matter of him doing it on the racetrack to help him go to another level.
“I think he’s capable of it. He’s a horse good ability.
“My horses always improve with a run but he’s a horse that always goes well fresh and I expect a bold performance from him on Saturday.”
Originally published as John Thompson chasing Kembla Grange double on Gong day as belated 50th birthday present
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