Thompson, who only recently turned his attention back to training after devoting much of the past 12-months to horse breaking and pre-training, has quickly chalked up two wins from three starters in the past few weeks.

His victory with Clarenden Envoy at Charlton on June 21 came with his first runner since May last year.

Thompson made it two-from-two with a win to Cee Cee In America at last Sunday's meeting at Charlton, before Clarenden Envoy just missed out on a placing and finished fourth in the final race on the program.

He is eager to continue the winning trend with Cee Cee In America, who will be having his second run for Thompson, after being trained for the first 68 starts of his career for eights wins and 25 placings by fellow Charltonian Greg Norman.

"He'd need the right run, obviously, to be a chance, but he needed that run on Sunday by the way he pulled up. One would hope he's better for the run," he said.

"He's a good little horse, but he's a fragile little fellow.

"I think he sometimes sees crocodiles at the finish line, but when he's in the zone, he's quite a talented horse.

"There's no doubt he has high speed and given the right run, he should be able to stay a bit too.

"He can do a bit late (in the race) if he doesn't do too much early."

Keeping it local, Cee Cee In America, a $6 chance in early betting, will be driven by in-form Charlton youngster Ryan Sanderson.

The supremely talented 18-year-old is fresh from driving his maiden Group 3 win aboard Travel Bug at Bendigo's Lord's Raceway last Saturday night.

He partnered Cee Cee In America to victory at Charlton last weekend and has been in brilliant form with 30 winners since his family's move to Charlton in March.

Thompson, the Charlton Harness Racing Club's president, referred to Sanderson - the son of Charlton trainer Shane Sanderson - as a definite star in the making.

"They (the family) have been a huge addition to us, you can't put a price on what they are worth," he said.

Sanderson will have three drives on Saturday night, including one for his father behind Dikerry in the NR 80 to 94 pace and another for Greg Norman on South Australian Group 2 Southern Cross Series winner Belladonna Girl in the NR 70 to 89 mares event.

Thompson said his return to training was part spurred by the success being enjoyed by his fellow Charlton participants.

The town's training centre has produced six winners since June 20, two apiece to Thompson and John Tormey (including one at Mildura on Friday) and one each to Mark Boyle and Greg Norman.

Sanderson has driven four winners in that time, while younger sister Abby drove her first winner at Maryborough on June 28, only 10 days after gaining her driving licence.

Thompson said he was relishing his return and he would be taking a decidedly long-term approach with Cee Cee In America.

"I have got a few yearlings now and I thought I better get into training mode rather than the horse breaking/pre-training mode," he said.

"I really wanted a racehorse or two, so hopefully when I get these two-year-olds going next year, we are in racing mode.

"I'm hopeful down the track he (Cee Cee In America) can be handy enough; if he's going badly, he can drop back to a grade he can compete in pretty quickly.

"That's the beauty of him, he has got plenty of talent, he's not limited.

"He's had 69 starts, but a lot of them have been in pretty good graded races."

Previously owned by South Australian harness racing identities the Cormack Brothers, Cee Cee In America is now owned by Thompson in partnership with his daughters Sabrina and Phoebe, his brother Kevin, from Wycheproof, and Charlton Harness Racing Club committee member Andrea O'Gorman.

READ MORE:

Abby Sanderson sprints to first driving win | Video

Ryan Sanderson scores first Group 3 win | Video

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