Thomson on favourite

Press, 18 February 1978, Page 16

Thomson on favourite

NZPA Melbourne The young New' Zealand jockey, Brent Thomson, has one favourite to ride at Flemington today in his effort to notch a Melbourne winner.

The 19-year-old apprentice has yet to win for his new employer, the trainer, Colin Hayes, since taking over as the Hayes stable jockey two weeks ago. Today he will be on the Havestrained Rumpus Room, which is expected to start at evens in the 1200 m Criterion Handicap for two-year-old colts and geldings. The biggest threat to Rumpus Room will be the New Zealandbred Karaman, a 2 to 1 chance after a three-race career which has resulted in a third at Ellerslie and two wins in Melbourne. Two $25,000 weight-for-age races are featured at Flemington today. In the 1000 m Lightning Stakes, a race record is expected when Tetranate, a winner at nine of 11 starts, clashes with the brilliant three-year-old Blazing Saddles. The 1600 m Blarney Stakes sees another couple of top three-year-olds among the favourites^—the New Zealand-bred, Lefroy, and Jury, the horse many Australians think is capable of testing Uncle Remus and Luskin Star in the Australasian Champion Stakes (2000 m at Randwick at Easter. Both, however, could find the (Approval entire. Opposition, second to Hyperno in the Orr Stakes (1400 m at Sandown last week, 1 difficult to head.