A metropolitan double at Murray Bridge on Saturday gave Jake Toeroek a commanding break in the race for the South Australian Metropolitan Jockey Premiership.
Toeroek produced a perfect ride aboard progressive Victorian Orlabent who remains unbeaten for Victorian trainer Melody Cunningham before Dunalley scored later in the day to establish a seven-win buffer over Todd Pannell.
It could have been an even bigger day for the leading rider who had three placings to go alongside his double.
Toeroek sharing riding honours with Dom Tourneur who scored early in the day aboard Mesrour for the Gordon Richards and Damien Moyle stable before he lifted Aiguilette to his first win in more than two years for trainer John MacMillan.
The most impressive wins of the day coming from the Will Clarken and Niki O’Shea trained pair of Favourite Child and promising three-year-old Hajra.
Favourite Child who made it four wins in succession when she handled a seven-day back-up to score a soft 1.7 length win with Rochelle Milnes in the saddle, her 24th city winner for the season.
“The team have her flying, the way she’s just progressing is incredible,’’ Milnes said.
“She let down a treat,’’ she said.
Hajra put her hand up for a tilt at the Listed Lightning Stakes later this month when she produced a brilliant turn of foot to race away from a good field of three-year-old’s late in the day.
“She’s going terrifically well,’’ Clarken said of Hajra
“We’re two weeks away from the Lightning, she’ll have an easy week and then light piece of work into the Lightning,’’ he said.
The double seeing Clarken and O’Shea reclaim the Metropolitan Trainer’s Premiership lead.
There was South Australian success interstate Teagan Voorham grabbing the opportunity to ride in the Rockhampton Cup with both hands when former European import Hype claimed the 1600m feature.
Sent out a $15 chance, Hype produced a big finish to claim the $150,000 feature.
