Glen Thompson had plenty to deal with in the aftermath of Whisky On The Hill booking a spot in next spring’s Melbourne Cup at Flemington on Saturday.
There was the high of the victory in the Roy Higgins (2600m) with the horse that had been balloted out of the past two Melbourne Cups securing his spot this year and then there was the memory of how it came about for Whisky On The Hill to be the headliner of his growing Flemington stable.
Thompson was the co-trainer of Mike Moroney, who’s death more than a year ago saw most of the stable’s horses sent to rival yards. Thompson was left with just half a dozen horses with Whisky On The Hill his major hope.
When the conversation turned to Moroney, Thompson’s eyes filled with tears.
‘’I get emotional if I talk about it but it is just good to be doing him proud,’’ he managed.
Thompson got back on track when asked about Whisky On The Hill and his immediate and long-term future.
He said the horse could go to the G1 Sydney Cup (3200m) in two weeks as Thompson said he was aware that none of the first three winners of the Roy Higgins have been able to take up the ballot-free run into the Melbourne Cup.
‘’I don’t see why not,’’ Thompson said of a Sydney Cup run. ‘’It would be good to try him at the distance, and the Melbourne Cup is a long way away. You put him away and you miss the race you’d be kicking yourself.’’
Thompson’s fortunes have turned sharply since starting all over again with just a handful of horses just 12 months ago.
‘’I walked away with about six,’’ he said. ‘’I have 17 boxes and I am full at the moment and building really nicely now, so I hope it can keep going.
‘’It took a while but once the yearling sales came around I’ve got good numbers and hopefully its onwards and upwards.
‘’He’s just a good stayer and I think the best is ahead of him. He’s getting older and more mature.’’
Starting at $6, Whisky On The Hill ran to the front and looked a sitting shot for the well-backed $2 favourite Litzdeel, but he continued to find for jockey Damian Lane and eventually held off the favourite by three quarters of a length with the same margin to the third placed Auckland Cup winner Paradise Storm ($7).
Lane rode a perfect race on Whisky On The Hill and he was quick to signal out Thompson’s efforts once he’d dismounted.
‘’Glen has done such a great job with this horse as he’d had a setback early in the prep and threw his schedule out so he had to get him right and then back him up with a couple of quick runs to get the miles into his legs for today,’’ Lane said.
‘’He just had him spot on and a really good horse, really effective and adept at these trips.
‘’He was feeling the pinch late but probably because of that setback, so it was a bit of a rush towards this race. I think he’s still got a touch of improvement. Very good win.’’