Image: Darren Winningham

Ben Thompson would be the last to go the early crow but, with only nine metropolitan meetings left until the end of the season, he is now very much the heir apparent to the 2025/26 Brisbane Jockeys’ Premiership title.

Thompson, who currently leads Ryan Maloney by 12.5 wins (81.5 to 69), has put in the hard yards to get into this position. His 537 metropolitan rides is a street more on the busy, hard work barometer than any other rider and while those numbers help tell part of the story of his success, it is only that … part of the story.

In essence, winning has to be a relentless pursuit. Even when a jockey has breached the gap from riding ‘also rans’ to gaining some traction on mounts of more quality (which is all part of the career path and a step up the ladder that has to be earned) … the next step becomes a well-worn theme.

Opportunity is one thing, making the opportunity count is another beast altogether.

Thompson has graduated on all fronts, with his expertise in the saddle still evolving, having benefitted from the sharp learning experience that comes with riding against some of the world’s best jockeys in Hong Kong (which Thompson did for eighteen months before returning to Australia to start the current season).

So, the Premiership title will be a fitting reward and a well-deserved honour for Thompson, particularly when considered in the context of his Premiership challenge in the 2022/23 racing year … Thompson’s last full season before his move to Hong Kong.

In that season Thompson finished second, behind Jimmy Orman, in the Premiership with 93 metropolitan winners to Orman’s tremendous haul of 104 winners.

Ninety-three winners was a mark that would have taken out the Premiership title in all of the previous four seasons … so, to say Thompson is due is probably not far off the mark.

Some will say that, while this premiership race is in the home straight, it is not over until the fat lady sings … well, it would take a herculean effort from the second-placed Ryan Maloney, who has battled Thompson at the top of the Premiership ladder for much of the season, to unseat Thompson now.

Not impossible, but highly improbable.

Defending champion Angela Jones will finish in third place in the Premiership after having her title defence compromised by injury which took her out of action at the start of the Winter Carnival. Jones has not ridden since May 6.

Thompson also currently leads the Queensland Provincial Jockeys’ Premiership where he has had another 290 rides for 45 winners … just four ahead of Brandon Lerena at this time … striking at an impressive 20.5 percent winning strike-rate.

In the overall Australian Jockeys’ Premiership, Thompson is second only to Willie Pike.

Whichever way you look at it, this has been a big season for Thompson … one which confirms that talent and opportunity can take you a long way but that, overall, nothing in the quest for success beats hard work.

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