Sir Lucan heats up again for Winter Cup as Nock gets one hand on title
'But I've got a week's suspension [now], so that probably gives that away a bit, but the apprentices' title is looking pretty good. We'll just keep the momentum rolling and I'm back next Saturday, so I don't miss too much.
'[Morgan] is getting a few good opportunities as well so it's obviously going to be hard to run him down.'
The two-kilogram claimer took Annabel and Rob Archibald-trained Don't Forget Jack ($6.50) and Mickey's Medal ($3) to wins after claiming the Highway Handicap on Matt Dale-prepared Super Norwest.
He gave Don't Forget Jack and Mickey's Medal rails runs before finding clear air to let them chase down Tasoraay and Northern Eyes respectively. Kurrinda Bloodstock-owned Super Norwest went forward from a wide gate before getting a seamless run just behind the speed and a clear shot at Antilocapra, which she beat by a short head.
'It was a good win, and I've got to say, that was a 20 out of 10 ride,' Kurrinda Bloodstock's Sean Driver said.
Andrew Adkins and Dylan Gibbons also rode multiple winners. Adkins won with Freight Train and Motoscafo, while Gibbons took King Of Roseau and pick-up ride Sacred Rocks to victories. Gibbons' day was soured by a four-meeting (June 22-29) careless riding suspension from race nine with Half Yours, which shifted and severely checked Nock's ride, Cormac T.
Filly delivers for Portelli and Calder
Spring prospect Queen Of Clubs eased the pain of Warwick Farm trainer Gary Portelli, while giving group-1 winning New Zealand jockey Andrew Calder a thrill in the opening race.
The Maurice filly, a $300,000 Magic Millions yearling, was near last before storming through a gap and past her rivals for a one and a quarter-length win over Regulated Affair in the 1400m race for two-year-olds.
The maiden win as a $35 Sportsbet chance at her fourth start came a day after Portelli lost Kimochi to a career-ending tendon injury. Kimochi was set to race in the $3 million Stradbroke Handicap, won by War Machine on Saturday at Eagle Farm.
'One door closes and another one opens, and I've been saying all along this is my next best thing,' Portelli said.
'I've been waiting for her, she does things at home that are just … I said she just can't get beat on the weekend, then she drew 10 and I thought, we'll just get a better price.'
Portelli said Queen Of Clubs would likely be spelled before being aimed the major fillies races in the spring, while group 1-winner Kimochi would be retired.
'It's a pretty decent tear and she's more valuable as a broodmare now,' he said.
Saturday's win was also a memorable moment for Calder, whose only other victory in Sydney came 21 years ago.
'I came over just out of my apprenticeship when I was about 20. I rode a listed winner here for Gerald Ryan,' Calder said.
'I've been around. I went to Macau for seven years, Singapore for a year after that, then back to New Zealand for a fair while. Then our whole family moved over here two or three years ago and I've been getting more into it.'
Calder and his family are based at Warwick Farm, where he works with father-in-law, Richard Collett.
Charity benefits from Baker proposal
Warwick Farm trainer Bjorn Baker was again kicking in for a worthy cause after Winning Proposal scored her first win for the stable on Saturday at Rosehill.
In her third start for Baker, the three-year-old filly was strong to the line with an inside run under apprentice Anna Roper to win the 1100m benchmark 72 handicap by a half-length from Overfull as a $10 chance.
Baker pledged on Friday at a calcutta that he would donate $10,000 to Equine Pathways Australia, a para-equestrian program for people with a disability, if he had a winner anywhere on Saturday.
Last month Baker pledged his winnings from Miss Kim Kar's victory at Randwick to Racing NSW's flood relief program for northern NSW participants.
King Of Roseau breaks drought
The biggest cheers at Rosehill on Saturday came from the owners of King Of Roseau when jockey Dylan Gibbons took the Capitalist three-year-old to a second career win in 16 starts.
The Peter Snowden-trained gelding had not won since his debut at Canberra in December 2023 and had since competed several times in stakes and big money races, placing six times.
A $14 chance in a 1300m benchmark 78 on Saturday, King Of Roseau sprinted quickly up the inside to easily beat Snack Bar.
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'Full credit to the horse, he hasn't won in a long time,' Gibbons said.
'I said to the owners pre-race he's probably the nicest class 1 horse going around.
'I was probably back a bit further than I would have liked, but he was in a beautiful rhythm and when he smoked up behind them, I just needed an out. When he got there, he had a bit of a float but then he went right on with the job.'
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News.com.au
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5 days ago
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Bulked-up unbeaten sprinter Private Harry to unveil new silks in The Everest
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Kurrinda Bloodstock director Sean Driver attempting Everest-Kosciuszko double with Private Harry and Boston Rocks
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