Majic Bay winning at Narrogin earlier in the year. Photo by Photography by Jodie Hallows
Jeremy Thornton celebrated a training double on Friday night at Narrogin, with Majic Bay and Swanbourne Spunk delivering the stable 100% runners to winners strike rate on the night.
Majic Bay started from barrier three in the third event on the night and was too good for them when settling in the one-out-one-back position over the 1823m trip.
Driven by Corey Peterson who drove both Thornton runners to success on Friday night, the pair made their way three wide with just under a lap to go, winning comfortably by a 1.8m margin in 2:00:8.
After purchasing Majic Bay for a mere $1000 in May this year, he has since been repaid tenfold, with the four-year-old double Westbred son of Franco Jamar now winning 5 races from just 18 starts for the stable, as well as a further seven placings to his name.
Swanbourne Spunk was also a “cheap” purchase for the Thornton family and on Friday night the seven-year-old gelding broke a 14-start losing sequence after taking out race six on the card.
The seven-year-old started as the $1.50 favourite from barrier one over the 2242m trip and he never looked in any danger when he sailed away to win by 11.2m in a winning mile rate of 2:03:4.
Thornton purchased Swanbourne Spunk in June 2022 and has since won four races with this season alone being one of his best with three wins and three placings from 29 starts and almost $17,000 in stakes.
“I thought they were going to go well,
“We will head to Northam this Saturday, but it’s a little bit harder with the program as they’ve all jumped up to the same mark, but I won’t be nominating them for the same race.”
Thornton is reaping the rewards of his hard work and astute training this season, with three winners in the past week for the Narrogin based stable.
“We’re just ticking along and picking the right races.”
Thornton, who picked up Sister Act NZ for just $1000 in recent weeks, welcomed a win with the six-year-old at Collie on November 3 at just her third start for the stable.
This season is undeniably his best one yet with 10 wins and 12 placings so far from his 81 starts.
Thornton currently has six horses in work but continues to keep his eyes open for the next bargain buy.
Majic Bay looks the favourite to take out the 2024 Leading Club Pacer at Narrogin, with the gelding sitting on 17 points with 3 wins, 2 second placings and a third placing this season at the track.
Franco Mecca NZ and Gold Horseshoe both sit on 12 points.
A licenced reinsman in 1994/1995, Thornton has driven in 475 races for 15 wins and 80 places and has had almost a lifetime of involvement in harness racing.
Jeremy took out his trainer licence during the 1999/2000 season and has had 38 winners to date, but his association with Just Barney has been his most successful, with their home bred gelding by Barnett Hanover and out of Lady in Luck having 153 starts for 14 wins and 44 placings and stakes in excess of $111,000.
His journey into the industry started with his father Neville Thornton who started training in the early 1980’s, training his first winner on Saturday, April 14 at Katanning with a horse by the name of My Emotion.
Neville trained up until 2013, with his final winner on Friday April 26 at Wagin with Big Shot Barbie.
Pre 1990 information kindly provided by Alan Parker, Harness Racing Historian and Inductee of the WA Racing Hall of Fame.
Ashleigh Paikos
