Winners Flowing for Rejuvenated Thomson

Jockey Amanda Thomson is resetting her riding career with a red hot run of winners.

The 36-year-old, who has had her share of brushes with racing authority, is making a telling comeback from racing’s wilderness with a string of winners including a timely double at Cluden Park on Thursday.

Thomson turned in two confident rides to win on Barmera for Ron and Janel Ryan and Strathcona for Townsville trainer Megan Purvis.

The wins went nicely with her 10 other winners since Boxing Day and put her near the top of winning averages in the State for her past 50 rides.

It’s a stunning revival for Thomson and she’s determined to keep it going.

“There was a period where I didn’t know if I was coming or going,” Thomson said.

“I took a break to focus on my four-year-old daughter Brooklyn.

“I clipped heels and had a fall and I just thought it was a little bit unfair to Brooklyn at the time. So it put me on the back foot for a while with racing.

“I went and worked at the day care for a bit and I enjoyed that. I was always going to come back but it was more or less going to be when she grew up a bit.

“I felt I was being a bit selfish because she was so little. So I had the break, and plus I was a little wayward, all up in arms and stuff.

“But it’s all going well now.

“I’ve got great support. Ronnie and Janel (Ryan) have been putting me on, Ricky Ludwig has always given me opportunities, Roy Chillemi as well, he even gave me rides back in my apprentice days.

“I did my apprenticeship with Fred Wieland and he’s been a huge support and I still ride work for him.”

Thomson’s career has taken numerous twists and turns since she first started riding trackwork and trials in Tamworth as an aspiring young jockey.

She eventually got her chance when she moved to Cairns in 2016 and served out her time with Wieland.

In a stop, start career she has ridden 161 winners at a respectable 13%.

And Thursday’s double continued a winning sequence at Cluden after she scored on the impressive Tsunami last week and Brave Intent a fortnight ago.

“Strathcona was a pick-up ride. I had won on him before so that was a plus and it was good to win on him for Megan,” Thomson said.

“I was really happy winning on Barmera for Ron. He was eight weeks between runs when he ran in Cairns last start and just compounded the last bit.

“He loves to run along and get his own way in front and even though he half missed the kick he travelled beautifully today.”

Meanwhile visiting Victorian apprentice Kiran Quilty landed an emotional win on home-bred Our Folly for Townsville trainer Graham Hughes in the Mitavite Mdn Hcp (1200m).

Quilty, who spent the week in the city, was riding in Townsville for the first time since suffering a serious fall at Cluden in May, 2023.

Her win on Our Folly also sealed a winning double for the Hughes stable after they won with evergreen galloper Family Star in the Ladbrokes Open Hcp (1000m).