Episode 463: Brent Thomson

From the late 70’s to the mid 80’s Brent Thomson was almost certainly Australia’s most high profile jockey. As number one rider for the powerful Lindsay Park training operation, he got to ride some of the nation’s best horses in Group 1 races around the nation. Brent quit the saddle in 2000 and was quickly signed by New Zealand Bloodstock as the company’s Australian representative. He continues to fill that role from his Melbourne base. When you conduct an interview with a bloke like Brent Thomson, it’s hard to know where to start and where to finish. We give it a crack on this week’s podcast, beginning with his decision to retire at the end of a Macau stint twenty four years ago. Brent talks of the vibrant state of racing in Macau at the time, and a Derby win on a smart horse called Cheerine Champion. He recalls the final winning ride of his career on a horse with strong Australian connections. We fast forward to his current situation and the diversified role he has with New Zealand Bloodstock. The former champion jockey takes us right back to early days in Wanganui (sometimes Whanganui) and an apprenticeship to his father Kevin who rode successfully before turning to training.  Brent reminisces about his very first winning ride way over on the east coast of the north island.  He looks back on a NZ win on Fury’s Order which gained him the Cox Plate ride. He’s never forgotten the loyalty of the horse’s owner. Brent takes us through one of the wettest Cox Plates on record.  He talks about the nickname bestowed upon him by a prominent Melbourne journalist- a nickname still used by friends and associates. The former champion jockey looks back on a second Cox Plate win on Family Of Man, a horse he admired tremendously. He recalls the stallion’s swansong appearance at Pinjarra in WA.  Brent clearly recalls the day Colin Hayes called him out of the Trentham jockey’s room with a gobsmacking offer. He talks of an opportunity to repay Colin Hayes by landing So Called a winner in the Cox Plate soon after beginning his new job. Brent takes us right through his amazing association with champion Dulcify. Recollections of the great horse’s breakdown in the 1979 Melbourne Cup haunt him to this day. He looks back on a seven year association with the legendary Colin Hayes. Brent talks of the “pick up” ride on Gurner’s Lane which brought him the first of two Caulfield Cups. He was bitterly disappointed when Lindsay Park commitments prevented his riding the horse in the Melbourne Cup. He looks back on a second Caulfield Cup on freakish mud runner Lord Reims. Much has been written about Dandy Andy’s shock defeat of Vo Rogue at odds of 125/1 in the 1988 Australian Cup. He wasn’t keen to ride the horse. Brent looks back on a UK trip instigated by Robert Sangster. He talks of the super horses he got to ride in two trips to Europe. He also reflects on some notable success in Hong Kong. Before taking up his Macau contract in the late 90’s Brent spent some time on the Gold Coast. He talks of a winning run for  retired trainer Alan Bailey. Brent takes us through his background in the “marriage stakes” and pays tribute to his four children and two grandchildren. He looks back on a relatively lucky run with injury. This is a lovely trip down memory lane with the Kiwi jockey who was one of the leading players in an era of great horses and unforgettable horsemen.