Robert Thompson confident of snaring Big Money in Stradbroke

ROBERT Thompson was riding big-race winners in Brisbane before most of his rivals in Saturday’s Stradbroke Handicap were born.

ROBERT Thompson was riding big-race winners in Brisbane before most of his rivals in Saturday’s Stradbroke Handicap were born.

The most successful rider in Australian racing with more than 4200 wins, the Hall of Fame jockey won the Sires Produce and Marlboro Stakes (now J.J. Atkins) on Romantic Dream in 1976.

Four decades later, the 58-year-old returns to Eagle Farm, his one-time field of dreams, hoping to snare the Stradbroke Handicap.

The jockey simply known as “RT” will partner Scone galloper Big Money, who had no luck when sixth to Black Heart Bart in the Goodwood Handicap at Morphettville.

“Even after all these years, I still get a thrill each and every day that I ride,” Thompson said. “And I will get a million thrills (Stradbroke first prize is $1 million) if Big Money crosses the line first in the Straddy.

“I have got a lot of good memories in Brisbane. I have a photo on my wall of when ­Romantic Dream won the Marlboro in 1976. I hope I get a few more good memories up there this weekend.”

Loveable larrikin Thompson is so popular that he even has a race named after him, with Cessnock hosting the Robert Thompson Cup.

Big Money might be $67 in the Stradbroke today but plenty of longshot punters will have a few dollars on him purely because Thompson is in the saddle.

He believes the gelding has similar talent to another Stradbroke contender Kaepernick, who is $14. Thompson rode Kaepernick when the Team Hawkes sprinter scored an explosive win at Scone last month.

“Big Money and Kaepernick are both smart horses with very good ability,” Thompson said. “Kaepernick absolutely bolted in when he resumed at Scone but now he has to make the jump from 1100m to 1400m.

“Big Money was badly hampered at the start in the Goodwood and that definitely cost him a couple of lengths.’’

Originally published as Robert Thompson confident of snaring Big Money in Stradbroke