Ben Thompson to ride in Hong Kong

Jockey Ben Thompson says it is a dream come true to be given the opportunity to ride in Hong Kong on a short-term eight-week stint.

The former Victorian apprentice who is now one of the leading riders in Queensland, was contacted on Monday and given the green light to travel less than 48 hours later.

Thompson will complete riding duties at the Sunshine Coast on Sunday, fly to Hong Kong next Wednesday, compete in barrier trials on Friday week and be ready to start riding at the Chinese New Year fixture at Sha Tin on February 12.

His licence to ride in Hong Kong will finish on April 4.

Thompson said he had not applied to ride in Hong Kong and received a random phone call on Monday.

“It’s very sudden and out of the blue, but it’s amazing and a bit of a dream come true,” Thompson told RSN.

“I had a phone call come through (on Monday) and it was a member of the Hong Kong Jockey Club asking if I would be interested in coming over.

“Fast forward and it’s not even 48 hours and everything’s been booked and we’re getting set to head over.

“It’s very exciting and I’m grateful for the opportunity.”

Thompson will travel to Hong Kong with wife Stephanie Thornton, who returns to race riding on Saturday at Eagle Farm after giving birth to the couple’s first child Harry last year.

Hong Kong will be the fourth international jurisdiction Thompson has ridden in have had a successful stint on Singapore along with winning rides in New Zealand and the UAE.

Thompson began riding in 2012 as a 15-year-old in Victoria before relocating to Queensland in 2020 and landed his biggest win on the Brisbane-trained Uncommon James in the Group 1 Oakleigh Plate at Sandown last year.