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Popular jockey Robert Thompson has added another chapter to his spectacular career with a Ramornie Handicap win aboard Big Money.
Robert Thompson has become just the second rider in history to twice win back-to-back Ramornie Handicaps with a dashing victory aboard Big Money in Wednesday's feature sprint at Grafton.
The 56-year-old turned in a typically professional display, settling Big Money behind the speed before peeling out to make his run in the straight.
The Rodney Northam-trained four-year-old wore down race leader Rocky King to score a determined win with Territory running on from the back for third.
The victory followed Thompson's win aboard Youthful Jack in last year's Ramornie (1200m), a race he also won in consecutive years aboard The Jackal in 2007-08.
"It took me 30 years to win one. It was one race I couldn't win - I had a heap of placings - in the last 10 years I've won four of them," Thompson said.
The only other jockey to have captured the bush feature back-to-back on two occasions was Cecil Skeeter Kelly.
Kelly claimed wins on Travatore in 1955-56 and repeated the feat on Blue Dart (1958) and Glanceful 1959.
The well-travelled Thompson has enjoyed a celebrated career and rode his 4000th winner at Newcastle in May.
He believes Big Money, who has won seven of his 11 starts and finished runner-up in the others, has a bright future.
"He is improving all the time. He is a young horse and has been well looked after," Thompson said.
"There may be something a little bit special down the track for this bloke."
Big Money started favourite in the Ramornie after scoring his maiden stakes victory in the W J Healy Stakes in Brisbane at his previous start.
Northam said the Grafton feature had always been the gelding's main mission.
"The Healy was a bonus. We were targeting this race but thought the Healy was winnable so we thought we'd win that as well," Northam said.
"He will have a break now and we will target races in the late spring in Melbourne."
Big Money denied apprentice Tegan Harrison a feature race double after she took out the Grafton Guineas aboard Royal Scribe.
Royal Scribe led throughout and Harrison attempted to do the same aboard Rocky King but was run down in the final 50m.
