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Jockeys steal the limelight in Adelaide

Jockeys largely stole the limelight from the thoroughbreds at Saturday’s nine-race Morphettville Parks meeting.

Dominic Tourneur, Caitlin Jones, Kayla Crowther and Karl Zechner all had special reasons to be happy with their work at day’s end.

Dom Tourneur

Tourneur delivered a heady ride to win the opener on Budd Fox. Despite missing the start in the 1950m event, Tourneur made the decision to surge to the front around the 800m mark and his horse ultimately recorded a comfortable three-length win in the four-horse field. Budd Fox may have won without the mid-race move, but Tourneur received plenty of post-race praise for showing some initiative.

On Twitter he described the tactic as his “only hope of winning that race at that distance” based on his assessment of pace, his horse’s fitness edge, plus the “vulnerability of the rivals at the trip, if made a true staying test…”

Caitlin Jones

Caitlin Jones has been to hell and back – at least twice – while arriving at her current stint in the saddle.

Injuries, including a serious back problem and sinus issues, threatened her career, as recently as earlier this year.

All of which combined to make her 200th career winner, aboard Richard and Chantelle Jolly’s Irish Mint in race two on Saturday, all the more memorable. For good measure her supportive partner Jason Holder’s mount, Star of Monsoon, finished second.

Kayla Crowther

Kayla Crowther is just one winner away from outriding her apprentice’s claim, after saluting aboard Really Discreet in race six over 1300m.

It was something of a bonus win for the Phillip Stokes stable, as Seemingly Discreet has been sold to Queensland interests.

Crowther now has 79 metropolitan wins and – given her excellent recent form – would be odds on to reach that magical 80 target in the coming week or two. It will mean the end of her 1.5kg city claim and put her in select company, as few apprentices achieve the feat. She has almost a year remaining on her apprenticeship.

Karl Zechner

After riding with success at the highest level in South Africa, Karl Zechner moved to South Australia earlier this year, essentially to pursue a better life for his family.

Winners – and opportunities – have been somewhat scarce so far, but Zechner made the most of his sole ride at Morphettville Parks on Saturday to land his first metropolitan winner in South Australia.

He brought Jon O’Connor’s Angaston down the outside with a well-timed run to take out race nine over 1400m. Well done.

Anything else to mention?

Among the other winners, Anthony Freedman’s three-year-old filly Flirting showed plenty in taking out the 1000m maiden event, while fellow Victorian visitor Lombardo was impressive in winning the benchmark 64 event over 1300m.

All up, the nine races were taken out by nine different jockeys.

Richard and Chantelle Jolly trained a double, with Irish Mint and two-year-old speedster All Banter.

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