JACOB Opperman had a day out at Morphettville on the weekend with a riding treble.
The talented young jockey combining with the in-form Aaron Bain and Ned Taylor stable to get former Victorian Shootoose his first win since crossing the border.
The former Simon Zahra-trained galloper caught the eye at his local debut before coming off the speed and proving too strong for Grinzinger Prince and justify the solid push in betting after being sent out a $2.70 favourite by punters.
The Bain/Taylor stable have produced five winners from their last 16 runners, three coming in the city, and kick starting a night of celebrations as they held their annual Gala Ball at the Convention Centre later that night.
The Jeff Searle-trained Chipson ($4.40) provided Opperman his second win for the day when he was too strong in the run home before he proved a more than suitable replacement for Ben Price getting home La Defense in the last for the Will Clarken and Niki O’Shea stable as a $2.90 favourite.
Favourite punters enjoyed a solid start to the day with Thirsty Guest winning the opening race as a $1.95 favourite before Victorian Poison Chalice proved too good a race later at the same short quote.
“I was never in doubt up the straight,’’ rider Callan Murray said of the Paul Preusker-trained Poison Chalice.
“I really felt my horse was only winding up, I think he’s a nice horse going forward,’’ he said.