Mark Thompson has been in the job less than two weeks and is enjoying the challenge of being Patinack Farm’s new Gold Coast foreman.
Thompson, an older brother of Nathan Tinkler’s head trainer John Thomson who runs the Patinack Farm operation in Sydney, has taken over from Toby Edmonds.
He started with a bang on the first day in the job training a double at Eagle Farm eight days ago but didn’t saddle a runner at last Saturday’s Doomben meeting.
At Caloundra on Sunday, Thompson got a taste of things that can go wrong when his only runner, From London, pulled up with a heart disorder after finishing last as $3 favourite in a 1200-metre Class One.
Patinack Farm’s luck also dried up at Doomben on Wednesday.
Thompson has five runners engaged at Eagle Farm on Saturday including Web Of Love in the Stolberg Constructions Open Handicap (1500m).
Once married to Kiwi jockey Lisa Cropp, Mark Thompson had extensive experience overseas working for stables in Macau, Singapore, Dubai, Japan and the United States.
Thompson briefly held a trainer’s licence in Sydney while working as a carpenter’s apprentice before he became disillusioned with racing and headed overseas.
“It’s very busy and there’s a lot to take in when you have to train 60 horses,” Thompson said.
“I’m still settling in and it’ll probably take another fortnight or so to get accustomed to it.
“It’s been a massive change of lifestyle for me coming to a country environment at Wadham Park after living in an apartment in the heart of Sydney.”
Jim Byrne is set to do the bulk of Patinack Farm’s riding and will be aboard Web Of Love, a last-start third to Knot Out in a 1400-metre Class Six Plate at Eagle Farm on March 5.
Web Of Love won for the first time for trainer Gabrielle Englebrecht at Randwick in June 2009 before being transferred to Thompson and sent to Patinack Farm’s Gold Coast base.
Since coming north the daughter of Show A Heart has been successful three times up to 1600 metres.
Thompson is looking for further improvement from Web Of Love who faces a giant task against Essington who will start a short-priced favourite despite a last-start defeat.
Essington was in contention for a short Sydney campaign before blotting his record when third to Lucky Leak over 1350 metres at Doomben last Saturday.
Trainer Darryl Hansen has scrapped a Sydney trip to concentrate on the Brisbane winter carnival with Essington, who will have one more start before heading for a short break.
AAP TURF
