Brent Thomson
The name Walwyn - as in Fulke or Peter - is composed of two British words, gwal, which means wall, and gwynne or wynne, which means white.
The name Walwyn - as in Fulke or Peter - is composed of two British words, gwal, which means wall, and gwynne or wynne, which means white.
The ruins of Walwyn Castle – the castle with white walls – can still be seen in Pembrokeshire today.
The ruins of Walwyn Castle – the castle with white walls – can still be seen in Pembrokeshire today.
Trainer Peter Walwyn, whose father rode White Surrey to win the 1923 Grand Military Gold Cup at Sandown, is a keen family historian and has perfect recall of its past.
Trainer Peter Walwyn, whose father rode White Surrey to win the 1923 Grand Military Gold Cup at Sandown, is a keen family historian and has perfect recall of its past.
He's the same with the jockeys who rode for him.
He's the same with the jockeys who rode for him.
He remembers them all, some with greater affection than others.
He remembers them all, some with greater affection than others.
Pat Eddery rode for him, as did Joe Mercer. And, after a fashion, so did Pat's brother, Paul.
Pat Eddery rode for him, as did Joe Mercer. And, after a fashion, so did Pat's brother, Paul.
But it was the Australian jockey Brent Thomson who replaced Paul, who caused Walwyn to stand continually bashing his head against a horse-box door saying: 'It's my fault. I am the f****** idiot that employed this imbecile...'
But it was the Australian jockey Brent Thomson who replaced Paul, who caused Walwyn to stand continually bashing his head against a horse-box door saying: 'It's my fault. I am the f****** idiot that employed this imbecile...'
The reason for Walwyn's rage was the outcome of a listed race at Deauville.
The reason for Walwyn's rage was the outcome of a listed race at Deauville.
He had booked Brent to ride the improving Turfah: he gave the jockey explicit instructions. Brent was told to lie handy and come with a nice long run in the straight.
He had booked Brent to ride the improving Turfah: he gave the jockey explicit instructions. Brent was told to lie handy and come with a nice long run in the straight.
There were around twenty runners and, to the trainer's chagrin, Brent kept Turfah almost last all the way round until the final yards when he galvanised the horse to finish like an express in fifth.
There were around twenty runners and, to the trainer's chagrin, Brent kept Turfah almost last all the way round until the final yards when he galvanised the horse to finish like an express in fifth.
They sat next to each other on the plane home. The atmosphere was icy, to say the least.
They sat next to each other on the plane home. The atmosphere was icy, to say the least.
Yet it had all started so well.
Yet it had all started so well.
Brent had given Turfah a great ride at Kempton to win the Roseberry then, disaster: while pulling up in a race at Goodwood, he fell, breaking his wrist.
Brent had given Turfah a great ride at Kempton to win the Roseberry then, disaster: while pulling up in a race at Goodwood, he fell, breaking his wrist.
He came back to ride in June, but, in Walwyn's opinion, wasn't the same man. The trainer felt a certain panache was missing.
He came back to ride in June, but, in Walwyn's opinion, wasn't the same man. The trainer felt a certain panache was missing.
Brent's nightmare at Deauville cemented Walwyn's view and when Brent told him in September that he intended to return to Australia, Walwyn was not unhappy.
Brent's nightmare at Deauville cemented Walwyn's view and when Brent told him in September that he intended to return to Australia, Walwyn was not unhappy.
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Brent was born on 17 March 1958, into a New Zealand racing family: his father, Kevin, was a trainer at Wanganui and, in 1973, aged 15, Brent took his first ride in public.
Brent was born on 17 March 1958, into a New Zealand racing family: his father, Kevin, was a trainer at Wanganui and, in 1973, aged 15, Brent took his first ride in public.
It quickly became apparent the Brent was no ordinary jockey. By 16, he'd become Champion Apprentice.
It quickly became apparent the Brent was no ordinary jockey. By 16, he'd become Champion Apprentice.
His enduring youthful countenance and public appeal earned him the nickname 'The Babe'.
His enduring youthful countenance and public appeal earned him the nickname 'The Babe'.
He was invited to ride Fury's Order in the 1974 Beson & Hedges at Riccarton: so impressive was the young jockey in winning that the owner wanted him to ride the horse in the 1975 Cox Plate.
He was invited to ride Fury's Order in the 1974 Beson & Hedges at Riccarton: so impressive was the young jockey in winning that the owner wanted him to ride the horse in the 1975 Cox Plate.
Being offered a ride in Australia's premier weight-for-age was an incredible endorsement of Brent's talent, yet few would have predicted the brilliant ride he gave it to win by a length.
Being offered a ride in Australia's premier weight-for-age was an incredible endorsement of Brent's talent, yet few would have predicted the brilliant ride he gave it to win by a length.
When only 17, he won the 1976 Auckland Cup on Perhaps - by the age of 21, he had won the prestigious Cox Plate four times and landed the job of stable jockey to one of the three biggest trainers in the land, Colin Hayes.
When only 17, he won the 1976 Auckland Cup on Perhaps - by the age of 21, he had won the prestigious Cox Plate four times and landed the job of stable jockey to one of the three biggest trainers in the land, Colin Hayes.
This partnership lasted six years before Brent's wanderlust – a hankering which persisted throughout his career – bought him to Europe when lured by Robert Sangster.
This partnership lasted six years before Brent's wanderlust – a hankering which persisted throughout his career – bought him to Europe when lured by Robert Sangster.
It paid off. Brent, aged 26, rode 30 winners in the first five months.
It paid off. Brent, aged 26, rode 30 winners in the first five months.
His first ride in England came on May 9, 1984. He rode Sangster's 20/1 shot Reggae Dancer in the Sefton Fillies Stakes at Chester. He was unplaced.
His first ride in England came on May 9, 1984. He rode Sangster's 20/1 shot Reggae Dancer in the Sefton Fillies Stakes at Chester. He was unplaced.
He returned to Australia on Sunday 23 September 1984 and came back to Britain the following year to ride the Sangster horses which were trained by Barry Hill.
He returned to Australia on Sunday 23 September 1984 and came back to Britain the following year to ride the Sangster horses which were trained by Barry Hill.
Two highlights of his time in England were his win for Sangster in the 1985 Ascot Gold Cup on Gildoran and a stunning success on Sure Blade, Sheikh Mohammed's three-year-old, in the Queen Elizabeth 11 Stakes at Ascot.
Two highlights of his time in England were his win for Sangster in the 1985 Ascot Gold Cup on Gildoran and a stunning success on Sure Blade, Sheikh Mohammed's three-year-old, in the Queen Elizabeth 11 Stakes at Ascot.
Brent rode for five years with great success in Hong Kong before falling foul of their licensing Committee (not his fault).
Brent rode for five years with great success in Hong Kong before falling foul of their licensing Committee (not his fault).
Globetrotter Brent eventually rode in 24 countries and, before calling it a day in 2000, rode over 2,500 winners worldwide.
Globetrotter Brent eventually rode in 24 countries and, before calling it a day in 2000, rode over 2,500 winners worldwide.
He was, without doubt, one of the finest jockeys to come out of that part of the world; Peter Walwyn must surely have caught him on an off-day.
He was, without doubt, one of the finest jockeys to come out of that part of the world; Peter Walwyn must surely have caught him on an off-day.
Big winners:
Big winners:
1984: Cork and Orrery Stakes – Committed
1984: Cork and Orrery Stakes – Committed
1984: Nunthorpe Stakes – Committed
1984: Nunthorpe Stakes – Committed
1985: Ormonde Stakes – Seismic Wave
1985: Ormonde Stakes – Seismic Wave
1985: Dee Stakes – Infantry
1985: Dee Stakes – Infantry
1985: Coventry Stakes – Sure Blade
1985: Coventry Stakes – Sure Blade
1985: Ascot Gold Cup – Gildoran
1985: Ascot Gold Cup – Gildoran
1985: Old Newton Cup – Clanrallier
1985: Old Newton Cup – Clanrallier
1985: Waterford Candelabra Stakes – Asteroid Field
1985: Waterford Candelabra Stakes – Asteroid Field
1985: Haydock Sprint Cup – Orojoya
1985: Haydock Sprint Cup – Orojoya
1985: Champagne Stakes – Sure Blade
1985: Champagne Stakes – Sure Blade
1986: Trusthouse Forte Mile – Field Hand
1986: Trusthouse Forte Mile – Field Hand
1986: Palace House Stakes – Double Schwarz
1986: Palace House Stakes – Double Schwarz
1986: Ormonde Stakes – Brunico
1986: Ormonde Stakes – Brunico
1986: St James’s Palace Stakes – Sure Blade
1986: St James’s Palace Stakes – Sure Blade
1986: Windsor Castle Stakes – Carol’s Treasure
1986: Windsor Castle Stakes – Carol’s Treasure
1986: Park Hill Stakes – Rejuvenate
1986: Park Hill Stakes – Rejuvenate
1986: Queen Elizabeth II Stakes – Sure Blade
1986: Queen Elizabeth II Stakes – Sure Blade
In Ireland
In Ireland
1985: Giltown Stud Stakes – Only
1985: Giltown Stud Stakes – Only
In Germany
In Germany
1984: Grosser Preis von Baden – Strawberry Road
1984: Grosser Preis von Baden – Strawberry Road