Thompson leads lean team at Rosehill

A much slimmer John Thompson has returned from his China experience with hopes of racing a couple of relatively unknown horses into group 1s at Rosehill on Saturday.

Thompson was one of the trainers for the China Horse Club meeting in Mongolia last week but the month over there proved a crash diet for him. ''I lost seven kilos because there was nothing to really eat,'' he said. ''McDonald's really saved us, you realise how good we have got it over here.

''It was a good experience though, and watching the other trainer prepare his horses I learnt a bit.''

Transporter, Hooked and Desk Pop make up the Rosehill team for Nathan Tinkler, who is in town to hopefully watch the Newcastle Knights, who he also owns, make the NRL grand final when they meet the Sydney Roosters on Saturday. ''I don't know if he is coming to the races, but he will definitely be watching, so hopefully we have a bit of luck,'' Thompson said.

Transporter ($18) tops the list and will be out to earn an Epsom Handicap run by winning the Shannon Stakes. The Commands six-year-old was part of Thompson's Queensland set-up and won his way into black-type during the winter carnival.

''He was the winningest horse in Queensland last season, he [has] won eight races to earn his way to those sort of races,'' Thompson said.

''He then led to the last 50 metres in the Hollindale Stakes, when third to Lights Of Heaven, was runner-up in the Lord Mayor's Cup to Solzhenitsyn and third at listed level to complete his campaign.

''The winter form has been good but he was a little disappointing at Newcastle last time, I think he is better than that.

''We have a change of jockey and Nash [Rawiller] takes over, which should help. He is there trying to get into the Epsom and that has been the plan this prep.''

Transporter was ridden off the pace in his runs when beaten a couple of lengths in the Tramway Stakes and then when he beat only two home in the Cameron Handicap when he missed the start.

Another former Queenslander, Hooked ($35), is coming off a fourth to Savvy Nature in the Spring Stakes at Newcastle and looks set to fire in the Gloaming Stakes.

''This will top him off for the Spring Champion Stakes and he is finally getting to a trip he will enjoy,'' Thompson said.

''I thought he was a little flat at Newcastle second-up ridden that bit closer and we will probably let him relax and get the trip.''

Desk Pop ($35) is in the deep in the Stan Fox. ''We thought we would test the waters,'' Thompson said.