Veteran local horseman Trevor White claimed back to back Mount Gambier Gold Cups on Friday when fast finishing Clever Man crossed the line in front of Lord Goldberg and Extra Elusive.

White paid tribute to apprentice Zoe Lloyd who did not panic when Clever Man looked in trouble approaching the turn, badly held up before he charged over the top of rivals to win easily.

“I did not think it was ours,’’ White said.

“The ride won it.

“He’s a fantastic little horse.”

Lloyd said the horse’s small stature helped the pair navigate an opening before powering underneath her rivals in the home straight.

“They were not going to let me out but as soon it opened up for him, he just powered,’’ Lloyd said.

“I do not think I have ever felt a horse sprint that quick for me.”

Six of the eight winners for the day were locally trained horses and seven of the eight winners were ridden by women jockeys.

Peter Hardacre’s Chill With Teejay claimed the Volcano, the first heat of the SA Sprint Series, while Victorian horseman Paul Preusker won the Blue Lake Handicap with Dothraki.

White will now look towards Saturday’s Onkaparinga Cup at Oakbank with the six-year-old who is closing in on $300,000 in prizemoney.

Placed in the Listed Premier’s Plate at Morphettville back in February, White blamed himself for the horse’s uncharacteristic poor performance when he only beat two runners home in the Group 3 Lord Reims Stakes behind subsequent Adelaide Cup favourite Highland Jakk.

“It proves we do not need to gallop all the time,’’ White said.

“He likes being fresh.

“I got a bit carried away, I galloped on the week of the race (Lord Reims) which I do not normally do.”