Few races attract more whimsical bets from the general public than Australia’s Melbourne Cup. Such is the race’s mainstream appeal with the non-racing public Down Under that wagers on a likeable name, a colour, a lucky number or a whisper from the mailman’s third cousin, twice removed, are common.
It figures, then, that Thore Hammer-Hansen will attract plenty of attention from Cup punters when he makes his Australian debut next month – particularly compared to rivals like James McDonald, Craig Williams and Rachel King.
He’s more than just an unusual name, though. Hammer-Hansen is Germany’s leading rider, a multiple Group 1 winner, successful on three continents and the most recent World All-Stars Jockeys champion in Japan. Yet for many, his name alone – ripped from Norse mythology – will be reason enough to back his mount, Henk Grewe-trained Flatten The Curve.
“I get that all the time, people telling me that it is the best name or their favourite name in racing,” Hammer-Hansen told Idol Horse. “Of course, some people are going to have a bet on that just considering that it is very superhero-orientated, but I can imagine the Melbourne Cup will be on a different scale.”
For those who find their new favourite in Hammer-Hansen, the first hurdle may be pronunciation. Is it Thor like Thor’s Hammer? Or is there a European twist?
“In England, they always said it like ‘Thor’ but in Germany they pronounce it ‘Tor-e’,” he said. “I am happy with either, ‘Thor’ is probably easier for English speakers. I don’t really mind.”
Name aside, Hammer-Hansen has built a global profile at rare speed, emerging from an upbringing steeped in racing. The 25-year-old was raised near Baden-Baden Racecourse before moving to Britain to complete his apprenticeship under Richard Hannon.
A student of master trainers like André Fabre and Sir Mark Prescott, Hammer-Hansen returned home in 2023. What followed was a breakout 2024: Group 1 wins in the Deutsches Derby and the Grosser Preis von Bayern for Grewe, capped by his first German title.
While 2025 has yet to deliver a Group 1 win, Hammer-Hansen has all but secured a second straight championship with 74 victories – matching last year’s total – and a growing international resume.
“The first year after I came back from the UK was very much just getting that base of good rides,” he said. “Last year was a great year and this year has been even better in some ways. I haven’t had that Group 1 winner yet but I’ve been travelling a lot more, I’ve been going to France a bit and having a bit of success there, I’ve had success in America and Japan – it was a real honour to even be invited to ride in the World All-Star Jockeys series and I believe I represented Germany well.”
Japan, he hopes, will be back on his itinerary – this time for a short-term contract.
“I’m aiming to go back there in January and February,” he said. “There’s nothing certain yet, but I am applying and that’s the plan. The next couple of years, during the winter, I’m trying to get around as much as I can, gaining experience from different countries and their style of racing.”
Hong Kong is another potential destination. His father Lennart, a prolific jockey in Germany and across Scandinavia, rode there briefly in early 2002, even riding in that year’s Derby.
“When my dad went to Hong Kong, myself and my mother went with him,” said. “I was too young to really have any memory of it, but I’ve seen a couple of home videos. It’s definitely a place I’d want to go back to at some stage.”
For now, his first trip to Australia awaits – and there appears to be little sign of Hammer Hansen’s curve flattening any time soon. ∎
