John Thompson searches for feature race double with warhorse and youngster
John Thompson’s hopes of pulling off a feature race double at Randwick on Saturday lie with two very different horses.
His most familiar customer is the now nine-year-old Dreamforce who is looking to win the first Group 1 of the new season in the $500,000 Winx Stakes (1400m).
He’s the veteran of the field but Thompson said he shouldn’t be underestimated and the punters haven’t dismissed the son of Fastnet Rock.
He’s rated a solid $12 chance to topple last year’s winner Verry Elleegant ($2.90) with Kolding ($5) on the second line of betting.
“He does have a big performance in him each preparation,” Thompson said.
“He’s good and he’s trialled well. You wouldn’t know he’s getting on and he’s in good order.
“He’s a very sound horse and he goes well fresh but he probably is a little better second-up.”
Dreamforce has been very well handled by the Randwick horseman and is only having his 40th career start on Saturday as he looks to add another Group 1 to his resume.
“He looks just the same to me and feels just the same and he’s still carrying on like a three-year-old so he seems good,” Thompson said.
“He’s been very well looked after. He’s been having four runs a preparation and that’s added to his longevity, for sure.
“He’ll probably go to the Tramway next then the George Main. He’s a very consistent horse. He’ll pop up somewhere, you can nearly guarantee it.”
John Thompson is hoping for a bold performance by Dreamforce in the Winx Stakes. Picture: Getty ImagesSource:Getty Images
The other feature is the Group 2 Silver Shadow Stakes (1200m) which is the first of four Princess Series races culminating in the Group 1 Flight Stakes (1600m) later in the spring.
Xtremetime is rated a $19 hope to defeat $2.90 chance Four Moves Ahead and She’s All Class ($3).
The Extreme Choice filly is no stranger to high class racing and in May she won the Listed Woodlands Stakes at just her third start.
“She’s a lovely filly who went through a few grades last time in and she’s now stepping up against the top fillies this time in through the Princess Series,” Thompson said.
“The best fillies all come together and any race in this series is hard to win.
“I’m looking forward to seeing how she steps up but she’s given us every indication that she’s a quality filly.”
Chat goes around in the Group 3 Show Country Quality (1200m) after running second in the Group 2 Missile Stakes a fortnight ago as a $13 hope.
He’s on the second line of betting for Saturday’s race after doing down to Phobetor who some say is a sneaky Everest prospect so the form is there.
“He’s underrated and he gives his best all the time,” Thompson said.
“Even when he gets beaten, if you watch a few of his runs last time in he was pretty unlucky.”
Originally published asThompson dreams of Group double at Randwick
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