Ryley Hill may have been one of the youngest people at Dubbo Turf Club on Saturday but he didn't look out of place whatsoever.
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The 14-year-old Hill is a stablehand for Brett Thompson and with the Gulgong trainer and his family attending a wedding on Saturday, the teenager was one of the people left to look after team at Dubbo.
It was another strong day for Thompson, as Clever Missile and Smart Moove both delivered in front of another huge Derby Day crowd.
Hill was on deck for both, and was particularly pleased to see Clever Missile earn a first win after a third and fourth in the first two starts of his career.
"That was very good," the youngster said after Ashley Morgan produced a fine ride from midfield to secure victory.
"It didn't look like he was going to get through but he did well. He's a big horse and Ash rode him well.
"We got a bit unlucky in his last few starts but he went well and that was a good win."
While Clever Missile remains a work in progress the promise he'd shown saw him jump a $2.50 favourite in Saturday's Matt Hansen Real Estate Stakes Maiden Plate (1400m).
After leaving his run to late at Bathurst last start, Morgan settled towards the front of the field and tracked the leaders for much of the journey.
Brave Maddie ($15) led the field out of the back straight while Absolute Control ($5) and Sticks 'N' Stones ($5) sat within range.
Absolute Control threatened as the field entered the straight but soon faded, as Thompson's gelding and the Clint Lundholm-trained Sticks 'N' Stones quickly pushed to the front.
Sharon Jeffries' Empowered Madam ($10) flew home along the outside but Clever Missile hung on to win by a head while Sticks 'N' Stones was third.
"I rode him last start at Bathurst and he was slow away and gave himself a huge task but today he jumped a lot better and put himself in a good spot," Morgan said after the win.
"He still does a lot wrong, just through inexperience, and I think he'll be a nicer horse in 12 months time.
"We'll see what they [Thompsons] do with him now but next preparation and next year he'll be a nice horse."
Smart Moove was the other winner for the Thompson team, the $2.25 favourite delivering in the Hit93.5 Benchmark 66 Handicap (1400m).
Also ridden by Morgan, Smart Moove produced a surging run along the extreme outside to score an eye-catching win.
The four-year-old grey mare went on to win by two-and-a-half lengths from the Rodney Robb-trained Lulu's Destiny ($11) while Caszar ($4.60) was third.
The win took Smart Moove's record to three wins and five placings from 10 starts.
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