RACING
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Brett Thompson will be looking for an unique double this weekend when he saddles up horses from his stable in two states.
The Gulgong trainer will be at Moonee Valley tonight to watch his five-year-old gelding Slate On Edge run in his second race in Melbourne before making the long journey back to Mudgee for Mudgee Race Club’s event on Saturday afternoon.
Thompson has three runners competing at Mudgee’s non-TAB meeting including Brooklyn Lad in the feature race of the day, the G.C Cox Plate.
Not to be confused with the $3 million Cox Plate at Moonee Valley, which will jump at 5.40pm on Saturday, the G.C Cox Plate is only for a share of $6500 in prizemoney.
Less than 24 hours earlier Thompson will be standing trackside at the Melbourne course hoping to celebrate his first interstate win.
Thompson has Slate On Edge in Melbourne for the Subzero Greys Challenge.
The Challenge has three races that visit racecourses at Caulfield, Moonee Valley and Flemington during the Melbourne Spring Carnival and Melbourne Cup Carnival.
Slate On Edge finished second at Caulfield last week and Thompson said the grey galloper pulled up well after his first run.
“He spent the week in Albury at Brett Cavanough’s stables. Kurt [Brett’s son] has been down here with him,” Thompson said.
“He worked really well early in the week. He is spot on and he has been given a very good barrier, which will help.”
Slate On Edge will jump from barrier one.
“It really helps at Moonee Valley. Dwayne Dunn [jockey] said he would have done a lot better at Caulfield if he had a better barrier,” Thompson said.
“The horse is going really well and we are going to go there and give it a crack.”
Slate On Edge’s race will jump at 7.45pm but Thompson said that won’t faze the five-year-old.
“When he goes to the races he knows it’s race time. He will be good to go.”
Thompson will then drive Slate On Edge back to Albury before the Gulgong trainer drives back on Saturday morning to Mudgee.
He hopes to make back in time for Mudgee’s first race at 2.35pm.
Thompson has runners in the first race with The Sea Lady, the third race with Boy OhBoy and the final race – the G.C Cox Plate – with Brooklyn Lad.
“Brooklyn Lad has started to hit a bit of form. As long as the track is not too hard he should have a good race,” Thompson said.
“He is a stayer who has run 2000 metres. He is still a run or two away from his best but he will be up to the task.”
Kandos trainer Greg Hook is the only other local trainer accepted for the G.C Cox Plate.
He will saddle up five-year-old chestnut mare Sobell Gaze for the mile race, which jumps at 5.10pm.