Melbourne Cup 2023: New dad Ben Thompson to ride True Marvel

Jockey Ben Thompson has a 2023 Melbourne Cup ride. Picture: Kevin Farmer

Less than seven weeks since becoming a father, jockey Ben Thompson will be striving to win the 2023 Melbourne Cup.

The Group 1-winning Queensland jockey is balancing his riding commitments with dad duties, with wife and fellow jockey Stephanie giving birth to baby Harry in September.

There hasn't been much sleep but there's been plenty of excitement – including a booking to ride in the Melbourne Cup.

Seven years after riding in his first Melbourne Cup, when finishing last on roughie Rose Of Virginia in the 2016 Cup won by Almandin, Thompson has his second ride in the big race.

Thompson has been called on by Sydney trainer Matthew Smith to ride True Marvel, the stayer who finished runner-up in this year's Sydney Cup when sent out at $151.

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True Marvel is even bigger odds in the Melbourne Cup next Tuesday, currently rated a $201 chance with TAB.

Thompson and connections still face something of a nervous wait until the final field is declared on Saturday, as the stayer is not totally assured of a start and could potentially be knocked out of the Cup field.

New dad Thompson said it won't be too long before baby Harry comes to the racetrack – possibly during the Queensland summer carnival.

"We would have liked to bring him down on Tuesday for the Melbourne Cup, but we just feel it's a bit soon," Thompson said.

"We weren't sure how we would approach things when he was born.

"We are both normally pretty active on social media but we have just decided to keep him to ourselves at the moment.

"But I'm sure we will see him at the track before too long."

Ben Thompson and wife Stephanie Thornton (pictured earlier this year). Picture: Nigel Hallett.

Lightweight rider Thompson, who won the Group 1 Oakleigh Plate on Uncommon James earlier this year, had been scouring Melbourne Cup prospects to try to nail a ride.

Most lightweight hopes already had jockeys booked, but Thompson was delighted to get the call-up "out of the blue" to partner True Marvel at 50kg.

"The first Melbourne Cup I rode in was a bit of a whirlwind, the horse I rode was an outsider and I was probably just able to enjoy it," Thompson said.

"This year, True Marvel is an outsider but probably one of the biggest boxes you need to be able to tick in a race like this is to be able to stay the distance.

"He certainly can do that.

True Marvel at track work at Flemington. Picture: Getty Images.

"He was a decent run in the Adelaide Cup earlier in the year and he was beaten less than a length by Explosive Jack in the Sydney Cup at two miles.

"Put it this way, he is going to have no issues running the trip.

"It is somewhat of a nervous wait until Saturday when the field is finalised to make sure he gets a start."

Thompson will ride at Ipswich on Friday before jetting to Melbourne to gallop True Marvel at track work on Saturday morning.