Thompson savours Whisky's Ansett win

Declan Bates aboard Whisky On The Hill (Image: Racing Photos)

Whisky On The Hill has won a thrilling edition of the Listed R.M. Ansett Classic at Mornington on Sunday, arriving in the nick of time under Declan Bates.

Trained by Glen Thompson, the son of Ribchester ($2.70) sat in the box seat throughout the slowly run race but looked a potential hard-luck story upon straightening, as Scary ($5) and Bankers Choice ($4.60) set off for home.

Bates went back and around the leading pair and though Whisky On The Hill needed every inch of the relatively short straight to get there, get there he did, flying home to score his first career Stakes win.

Returning to the scene where he won the Cup with the now Lindsay Park-trained Bankers Choice in April, Thompson was fearful as they straightened but delighted with what unfolded from there, particularly for a group of his loyal supporters.

"I thought he was in a lot of trouble, but it was good to see him get out and the best horse won," he said. "He's a horse on the way up. It's good to get a result for a group of owners who have really backed me since everything went down." - Racing.com