Snaring a riding contract in Hong Kong is a much sought-after privilege. Fair to say, you don’t receive one unless you have earned it.
The fact that Ben Thompson has got the call-up is due reward for his hard work over recent seasons which has brought him an ever-progressive rise in both status and achievement (which includes that Group 1 win aboard Uncommon James).
And I mean … literally, got the call-up. The phone call was entirely unexpected.
“Yeah, it is still sinking in. It’s very surreal. The offer came out of left field,” explained Thompson. “It was obviously a pleasant surprise.
“As a jockey, I think riding in Hong Kong is something we all strive for, or dream of doing, and I’m very grateful for the opportunity.
“I’m on an eight-week contract,” confirmed Thompson. “I commence riding on Monday February 12, and my license concludes on Wednesday April 4 … that’s eight weeks and sixteen meetings. We’ll see what comes after that, but, hopefully, things go really well.
“I’ve ridden for David Hayes and Mark Newnham before so that’s a start in terms of known contacts over there, but, basically, I know it is going to be like starting again.
“It’s one of the toughest racing jurisdictions in world with riders from all around the world, so to be amongst that is both a privilege and a challenge I’m looking forward to.”
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Life has changed very much for the better for Thompson since he made the drive up to Queensland from Victoria in August 2020 … in Covid-19 ridden times … to reunited with his then partner, now wife, Stephanie (Thornton) and to kick off a new era in his professional career.
It wasn’t a simple move, starting off with filling it Covid-19 permits and spending two weeks in quarantine at a Gold Coast hotel, but it was, in his own words … ‘the best decision’ Thompson has made, both personally and professionally … having come up trumps in both of those pursuits.
He and Stephanie married and now have a child. His riding expertise has seen him rise quickly to be, statistically, the second-best rider in Queensland (behind Jimmy Orman) with his return of ninety-three metropolitan winners last season of the one hundred and fifty-one winners he had in total for the season in Queensland, underlining just what a great campaign he had.
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But for all of Thompson’s outward success, you would be very much mistaken if you thought it has all been a bed of roses for the Thompson family in recent times.
Health complications with their son Harry created a stressful situation you wouldn’t wish on any parent.
“Harry had a rocky start to life. He had an issue with his heart and had open heart surgery which, thankfully, all went perfectly.” said Thompson,
“He was in hospital for the first six weeks of his life. Fortunately, he is going really well now.
“If the offer had come a couple of months ago, it wouldn’t have been possible to take up with Harry’s health situation then, so, apart from being made the offer in the first place, the timing of the offer from Hong Kong, coming as it did now, is unbelievable.
“Even as things are now, the decision wasn’t my own … it was a decision Stephanie and I had to make together, obviously putting Harry first. There is no better outcome than having Harry healthy and with us.
“You know, there’s that saying that as long as you’ve got your health that’s all that matters. What has happened with Harry has put things very much in perspective for us in that regard. Hospital is a hard environment to be in, but it makes you appreciate what you have got.
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“And now, yeah, here we are.
“Forty-eight hours ago, I hadn’t even had the conversation … hadn’t even been contacted about Hong Kong.
“It’s been an absolute whirlwind … so we are just getting our ducks in a row. I guess we are actually still trying to get our head around it.
“I’ll finish riding at the Sunshine Coast on Sunday, and we fly off next Wednesday.
“The Hong Kong Jockey Club couldn’t be more accommodating in making the transition as easy as it can be.
“It’s just amazing that it has happened and it’s amazing the world we are about to enter.”
