Maggie Collett and Damien Moyle each had a day to remember at Morphettville Parks on Saturday.
Collett landed her first city win aboard The Raven on her first day of metropolitan riding at just her third city ride, while Moyle landed his first winner as a trainer when City Beats scored narrowly.
Collett has been a rapid improver since making her riding debut and was thrilled to get a winner on her first day of metropolitan riding, made more special by winning aboard a horse she’s had plenty to do with, trained by Strathalbyn horsewoman Kristi Evans
“I’m so happy – I’m so honoured to be given the ride on him,” Collett said.
“It’s great to be supported by the Strath trainers.”
Collett almost had the dream start when in-form mare Trip led and was only reeled in late.
“She’s always vulnerable late, she had a lot of dead weight, (but) she ran really well,” said Collett, while paying thanks to family and the people at the helm of the TRSA Apprentice Academy.
“Briony (Moore) and Darryn (Murphy) are a really big help,” she said.
Moyle, who is a key part of the Gordon Richards stable, was thrilled to land his first winner with the sole horse in his stable when City Beats defied rivals in a thrilling finish where just over a half-length separated the first five horses over the line.
“Full stable of one,” Moyle said post-race.
City Beats was ridden by Teagan Voorham and was the second leg of a riding double for the apprentice, after she scored on former NT galloper Savatoxl for the Tony and Calvin McEvoy stable.
While it was a day of firsts in Adelaide there was a familiar tone at Sandown in Melbourne, with Kemalpasa winning again and star South Australian jockey Jamie Kah finishing her spring carnival in style with a treble.
Kah won the Group 2 Zipping Classing on Sound and the Sandown Cup aboard Carif to complete an amazing spring for the sport’s brightest rising star.
She finished the spring with a Group 1 win in the Toorak aboard Mr Quickie, five Group 2 wins which included SA mare Bella Vella’s win in the McEwen Stakes, two Group 3 victories (both aboard Sovereign Award) and three Listed wins including Saturday’s Doveton Stakes for Phillip Stokes.
