Ashley Thompson had a day he’ll never forget when he guided promising filly Midnight Martini home for his first win at Flemington at his first ride for leading trainer Mark Kavanagh.
Thompson also racked up his 100th career winner aboard the daughter of Street Cry in the Rod Johnson Hcp (2000m).
“I know there was a good gap that opened for him but he can ride this kid,” Kavanagh said of Thompson after he watched him punch home the $4.60 favourite to a long neck win over You Think So ($10) with Ulundi ($11) three-quarters of a length away third.
“He claims three (kilograms) and he showed a bit of initiative, that’s good.”
Kavanagh also had a good word for Midnight Martini who completed a hat-trick of wins and will be given the chance to see how far she can go in the spring.
The filly was stepping up to 2000m for the first time following a 1300m midweek win at Sandown and was backing up on Saturday a week after a 1600m victory at Sandown.
“She’s kept improving the whole time she’s been in work this time and she’ll go to the paddock now and get ready for some sort of race in the spring,” he said.
“You never know where she’s going to turn up so I’ll just wait and see how she does in her rest.
“She was sent to me by the breeders (Mill Park Stud, South Australia). She’s a Street Cry filly and the door is also open for anything by Street Cry at my place.
“Any filly who can win three in a row against the boys has got to be going well.”
Midnight Martini, who has won four of her seven starts, is out of the Zabeel mare Benvenuta who is a winning daughter of Group One New Zealand Oaks winner Sawatdee.
Thompson, apprenticed to his mother, Kilmore trainer Jody Thompson, described his first win at Flemington as a big thrill.
AAP TURF
