In the same week of being named as the Dux of the Racing SA Apprentice Academy at Morphettville, a young Mount Gambier jockey also enjoyed plenty of success in last Friday’s race meeting at Penola.
The Blue Lake city jockey-trainer combo Jacob Opperman and Michael O’Leary teamed up to help Four Outlaws win the Coopers Brewery Benchmark 56 Handicap.
Street Baby was almost five lengths in arrears, but favourite Legenda struggled and came home in last place.
Opperman rode to yet another win in the Coonawarra Vignerons Cup 13th January 2022 Benchmark 68 Handicap.
Riding the Mount Gambier trained Wild Willy, Opperman’s skills proved decisive as he edged out Manhatten Arch, Libbyangel and Mista Holyfield in a thrilling finish.
The young Mount Gambier jockey made it a hat-trick in the following event – the TAB Class Two Handicap.
On board O’Leary’s Picaroon, Opperman showed why the combination was the favourite winning by more than two lengths from Centre Scoota and Air Time.
The youngster was on the verge of scoring a fourth win in the final race of the day – the 1100m DiGiorgio Family Wines Benchmark 54 Handicap.
But Turf Tapper edged out Opperman’s Comiendo by three hundredths of a second.
The local winners were not just centred around Opperman as many others in the Limestone Coast racing industry received some winnings.
The success occurred straight away in the AB Spraying Services Benchmark 72 Handicap 2100m race.
Runbro, trained by Mount Gambier’s Belinda O’Loughlin lived up to its favourites tag cruising home by more than five lengths to runner-up Steven James.
The E.E Muir and Sons Maiden Plate was a tighter battle where another Mount Gambier trained horse was victorious.
Richard Nicholson’s Mavourneen overcame Looking Forward in the sprint to the line, while favourite Treasure Chest was fourth.
The cream rose to the top in the Cool Moose Refrigeration and Airconditioning Maiden Plate.
Favourite Cheh Cheh Charlee ridden by Jason Holder cleared the pack followed by Magicourt, while Jungle Flight stunned the crowd by earning a podium finish despite boasting a starting price of $101.
The Blue Lake City trainers continued their golden run of form in the Vale Geoff Berkin Benchmark 62 Handicap.
Peter Hardacre’s Damascus Moment ridden by Ryan Hurdle showed why it was named as the favourite to beat runner-up Kyzamba by five lengths.
