The Victoria Derby will be the next mission for South Australian three-year-old Goldrush Guru after his dominant win in the Listed Hill Smith Stakes at Morphettville on Saturday.
The Andrew Gluyas-trained colt made it three wins from five starts as a three-year-old when he was ridden off the speed before powering away from Cavity Bay in the 1800m feature, the second leg of a winning double for top jockey Jason Holder.
“It was a good win,’’ Holder said.
“I got there a bit early but he was full of running, when I let him go he went bang and I thought they were going to have to be good to beat me,’’ he said.
Holder said the horse was in a good place to take the next step over the border during the Spring Carnival.
“He’s a serious racehorse,’’ Holder added.
“He’s got to learn how to settle,’’ he said.
Holder’s first win for the day came aboard Royal Majesty who scored an impressive first-up win in a heat of the Sportsbet Rebel Raider Series.
Holder shared riding honours with apprentice Taylor Johnstone who continues to make a name for herself in SA.
Johnstone was successful aboard Winning Revolution before Pearl Adios was successful at odds to complete a massive weekend after she returned home to Tasmania on Friday night and landed her 100th career win aboard Bunker Bob.
It was also a memorable day for apprentice Zoe Lloyd landing her first metropolitan winner when France’s Boy led throughout for his 18th win at start 128 for the John Hickmott and Carrina Riggs stable.
“It’s amazing to do it for Johnny and Carrina,’’ Lloyd said.
“They’ve been a massive support and even better that it was on old France’s Boy,’’ she said.
