An early winning double at Dubbo was another thrill for the in-form Thompson stables but the fact both winners have spent their whole lives with the Gulgong team made it even more special.
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Trainer Brett Thompson and his team have been scoring victories at various country tracks in recent weeks and the good times continued on Friday when All Hollywood and Attalea won the first two races on the card respectively at Dubbo Turf Club.
All Hollywood scored a commanding win in the Daily Liberal Melbourne Cup Day Maiden Handicap (1000m) and that was followed by a gutsy performance from Attalea in the Chill-Rite Daikin Christmas Race Day Open Handicap (1400m).
Thompson's son, Ben, was on hand for both wins and was thrilled after going back-to-back early on.
"It's great," he told Sky Thoroughbred Central.
"Our stable is going great at the moment and we've got such a great system now.
Our stable is going great at the moment.
- Ben Thompson
"These are all horses that have been broken in through our stable and they've come from babies right through so it's all paying off."
Attalea's victory was satisfying after what had been a somewhat frustrating preparation up to this point.
A seven-year-old veteran who made the 41st start of his career at Dubbo, Attalea has been playing up a little in recent times but got things right on Friday as he and jockey Aaron Bullock stalked runaway leader Cowboys Karma ($5) before stealing victory late on.
"He's been mucking around a bit this time in," Thompson said.
"He's been playing up at the gates and we've had top re-trial him but he's been working really, really well and I said to Aaron today he's been working well enough to win this race."
Attalea ($9.50) won by a nose in a photo from Cowboys Karma while Free Billy ($4) was third.
All Hollywood ($2.80) won by two-and-three-quarter lengths.
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