Thompson lands first Saturday metro winner

Promising apprentice Adin Thompson has shown he is dedicated to his trade by celebrating his first Saturday metropolitan winner with an early bedtime.

Thompson rode a near-perfect race to land The Kingdom ($6) a head winner over Mosshiki ($2.60) in the Grinders Handicap (1500m) at Eagle Farm.

“I followed Robbie Fradd (on Mosshiki) into the race and my horse sprinted quickly,” Thompson said.

Thompson, 18, has ridden 116 winners overall and was the leading apprentice in Queensland in that category last season.

He has continued on his winning way since switching to metropolitan and provincial venues this season but a first Saturday metropolitan win had proved elusive.

“I had ridden five metro winners but they were all at the midweeks, including two in the past week,” Thompson said.

“I have had a frustrating run of seconds in Saturday racing so it is great to break the duck.

“I’ll celebrate by going to bed early because I have to ride trackwork and be at Caloundra tomorrow.”

Trainer Les Kelly plans to step up The Kingdom to 2000m soon.

“Glen Boss rode him and said he was a dead set mile-and-a-quarter horse,” Kelly said.