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What a weekend for SA

The Queensland winter carnival awaits Savatoxl after his brilliant Group 1 Goodwood (1200m) win at Morphettville on the weekend.

Co-trainer Tony McEvoy confirmed on Sunday the former Top End galloper would head to Brisbane for the Group 3 Kingsford Smith Stakes over 1300m while he didn’t rule out a tilt at the $2 million Stradbroke (1400m).

“That was an incredible result,” McEvoy said.

“What a job he’s done.”

In a Goodwood that was expected to be dominated by the big-name South Australian sprinters, it was a picture-perfect ride from Barend Vorster that saw one of the outsiders upstage his better-performed rivals.

Hugging the rails around the home turn Savatoxl burst away from rivals on straightening before safely holding Instant Celebrity and Gytrash in the run to the line. McEvoy said seeing Vorster claim SA’s showpiece race, his first SA major, was most satisfying.

Earlier in the day, Jamie Kah proved the gear change Brooklyn Hustle needed, winning the Group 2 Proud Miss Stakes in impressive fashion and also book a ticket to Queensland. The well-backed Mimi’s Award claimed the Group 3 SA Fillies Classic for Ben Hayes and Tom Dabernig, while Peter Moody’s In Good Health toyed with rivals in the Centaurea Stakes.

And one of the biggest celebrations of the day came from Murray Bridge horseman Michael Hickmott when Lord Vladivostok claimed the Group 3 R A Lee Stakes.

With his New Zealand owner Tommy Heptinstall in SA for the first time since sending an army of horses to Hickmott, Lord Vladivostok fought off Dr Drill in a driving finish to record his fourth win in eight starts on Australian soil and will now be aimed at some spring targets.

Interstate there were some SA success stories.

While not owned or trained here, last year’s SA Fillies Classic winner Realm Of Flowers booked a Melbourne Cup start via the Andrew Ramsden at Flemington on Saturday.

And local apprentice jockey Jacob Opperman’s big few weeks continued by winning the Casterton Cup in combination with Sue Murphy and Farooq yesterday, the first leg of a winning double.

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