Newcastle's reigning premier jockey, Andrew Gibbons, believes victory in Sunday's Robert Thompson Cup (1200m) at Newcastle Racecourse would be another highlight in a career featuring more than 1100 wins.
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Gibbons will ride in-form Trophies Galore for Muswellbrook trainer Andrew Robinson in the benchmark 64 handicap.
The mare is chasing a hat-trick of wins this preparation. She came from last to score a runaway victory at Muswellbrook first-up on Melbourne Cup day. Two weeks later, on The Hunter day at Newcastle, Gibbons produced a peach of a ride to overcome a wide barrier in the 1300m Highway Handicap.
Sunday's race celebrates Australian Hall of Fame jockey Thompson's stellar career and its one Gibbons would love to win.
"I have always considered Robert one of the top three riders I have ridden against," Gibbons said. "He is one of my closest friends in the room. He is a gentleman both on and off the track and I would be thrilled to win the cup named in his honour.
"Trophies Galore has been outstanding in her only two runs this preparation. She comes back 100 metres, but if the tempo is OK, she will travel midfield and the mare has a good turn of foot."
The Thornton boy also rides Itz Lily, He's Imposing and Magic Charlee on Sunday and all have winning prospects.
"Itz Lily is more of a stayer, however she can sprint well fresh and she won first-up in her only prep," he said.
"The mare has won four from nine starts with four placings and she finished a close fourth in the group 2 The Roses during the winter carnival.
"He's Imposing has won over 2400 and he can outstay the opposition on Sunday.
"Magic Charlee was unlucky on Melbourne Cup day on the Kensington track and she has a good chance in the last race."
Gibbons will marry his fiancée Keeley Gageler at Pokolbin on February 16.
Three-year-old blueblood Geo is the most interesting runner at Newcastle on Sunday.
Kris Lees trains the colt for John Singleton and the horse's dam, Samantha Miss, was a multiple group 1 winner.
Geo has had five barrier trials and won his most recent on the Beaumont track by seven lengths. He runs the 1300m maiden plate with Aaron Bullock in the saddle.
Kim Waugh's Atherton drops sharply in class in the 1300m maiden handicap and the three-year-old looks the winner.
Atherton debuted at Hawkesbury in April when a close fourth in a strong two-year-old event. After two trial wins in October, Atherton resumed in a classy maiden on the Kensington track on Melbourne Cup day. He finished midfield but this is a very winnable race and he has a nice barrier.
