ROD Northam goes to a Gilgandra Cup today full of confidence Prior Baron can win the feature race after champion jockey Robert Thompson helped change the luck for the Scone trainer at Tamworth yesterday.
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Thompson was on song with The Hum in yesterday’s New Function Centre Opening Soon Maiden Handicap (1400m).
They surged away to a two length win from the Grant Allard-trained Up The Ante.
It was The Hum’s first race win in 11 starts and the first leg of a winning treble for Thompson.
“It’s been a shocking week,” Northam said.
“Maroney Avenue ran last in Sydney, got galloped on and cut his hind legs.”
Another starter missed the kick in Newcastle midweek and was “never in the hunt”, he added.
So The Hum was a turnaround in fortune.
“Last time in he never travelled and was always off the bit,” he said.
“This time he’s jumping better and travelling, putting himself in the race. But it was another perfect Robert Thompson ride. He told me he’d have him third or fourth on the fence and that’s where he was.”
The Hum did the rest while Thompson was also “on song’ winning with The Lions Share (Luke Griffith) and Shocking Behaviour (Greg Bennett).
His treble also lobbed him back equal top of the Hunter and North West Racing Association jockey’s premiership.
Scone apprentice Courtney van Der Werf had moved three ahead with her Inverell Cup day treble but Thompson kicked back in brilliant fashion with his own treble yesterday, the final leg for Courtney’s master, Greg Bennett.
“Robert just rode her perfectly,” Bennett said.
“She’s got a very awkward action but she relaxed so well with Robert today and just needed a little bit of luck. I also think she’ll get the 1400m because she is prepared to go to sleep”.
Rod Northam has numerous races with Thompson aboard but the Cessnock hoop won’t be aboard Prior Baron in tomorrow’s $27,000 Gilgandra Bowling Club 2013 Gilgandra Cup (1600m).
Daniel Northey will partner the nine-year-old in his 68th race start.
The 59kg topweight has drawn barrier five as he chases an 11th career win.
“He’s been a great old horse for us,” Northam said of the nine-year-old son of Langfuhr.
“He’s drawn well but his biggest problem might be a big field with a few picnickers who might go hammer and tongs up front and get in his way. I do expect him to run well. He’s done really well since his run at Scone. I’m really happy with him after we dropped him back to the 1300m at Scone.
