A Gawler riding double has given Jessica Eaton some breathing space over Todd Pannell in the race for the 2020-21 Adelaide Rider’s Premiership.
Eaton claimed the opening race aboard Victorian It’s Kind Of Magic before combining with exciting youngster Taunting who made it consecutive wins with an impressive front running performance.
With Todd Pannell going winless on Saturday, Eaton now has a three-win buffer with three metropolitan meetings remaining in the season.
The impressive front running win by Taunting also gives trainer Michael Hickmott a four-win buffer over Tony and Calvin McEvoy in the Trainers’ Premiership.
While Eaton and Hickmott strengthened their claims at respective premiership success, punters were on the canvas early.
Alex Stra provided the biggest upset of the season when De Thorn scored a $151 (paying $251 on the NSW TAB) early in the day.
It was seven years between city wins for Stra, as the horse completed a massive form reversal after he was beaten more than 17 lengths at his previous start.
Flying Pierro followed that winning at $26 before Smart Alick completed a tough run for punters when he scored at $21 later in the day giving Stacey Metcalfe her first city winner as a senior rider.
Paul Gatt shared riding honours with Eaton and Kayla Crowther while Travis Doudle took training honours with Mutinous, who made it two wins in succession before Mahis Angel upstaged boom stablemate Not Usual Glorious winning the last race on the card.
“They galloped together on Tuesday and Paul (Gatt) got off Mahis Angel and said this horse is working better than his form suggests,’’ Doudle said.
“The step up in distance has really helped as well,’’ he said.
Doudle said Not Usual Glorious was game in defeat after leading and wanting to race greenly in the home straight.
“He’s a funny sort of horse, he was in front and he wanted to lay out,’’ Doudle said.
“He can bounce back no problem,’’ he said.
