The spoils were shared as the Australia versus Ireland Jumping Challenge wound up at Morphettville last Saturday, with wins to a Victorian-trained, “Aussie”-ridden hurdler and a South Australian-trained, Irish-ridden ’chaser.
But it was the Irish who finished with their noses in front in the jockeys’ series, 55.5 points to 54.5, after last Saturday’s jumps races and two highweight flat races at Gawler three days earlier.
Cranbourne trainer Eric Musgrove, a prolific winner in SA jumps races this season, took the 3200-metre hurdle at Morphettville with  Dash For Cash gelding Youl Dash For Cash ($10), ridden by English expat Will Gordon, representing Australia. 
Earlier, Oakbank trainer Barry Brook was delighted with the all-the-way steeplechase win of Searaven ($11) under Australian-based hoop Shane Jackson, riding for his native Ireland.

Meanwhile on the flat, the newly formed training partnership of Tony and Calvin McEvoy landed its first Adelaide double on the Parks track.

The father and son opened their account when Shop Til I Drop ($2.90 equal favourite) took out the benchmark 70 handicap over 1950 metres.  

Now the winner of three successive races, Shop Til I Drop came from last on the home turn and Calvin McEvoy confirmed the stable’s high opinion of the Savabeel mare. 

The McEvoys completed their day on a high when Nistaan ($1.75 favourite) led nearly all the way to take the benchmark 66 over 1400 metres. 

Both winners were ridden by stable jockey Barend Vorster, as was the McEvoys’ winner on Sunday at Murray Bridge — Sisstar ($1.20 favourite) in the 1000-metre maiden. 

Victorian sire Magnus was another to produce a double at the Morphettville meeting with the Will Clarken-trained Magna Bella ($4) and the Richard and Chntelle Jolly-trained Kemalpasa ($2.80 favourite) winning successive races. 

The Gawler and Barossa Jockey Club and Cornerstone Stud will combine to conduct a six-race spring series aimed at fillies and mares, to be known as the Sir Prancealot series.

The series culminates in a final over 1200 metres at Gawler’s metro card on Saturday December 21. 

A nomination to Sir Prancealot, valued at $14,300, will be on offer to the winning connections while the heat winners will be offered services to another Cornerstone sire, Ambidexter ($5500). 

The popular Mindarie-Halidon Cup day, due to be run on Sunday week (September 22), has been abandoned due to problems with the Halidon track. 

Deepest sympathy to racing.com Adelaide presenter Terry McAuliffe on the death of his mother, Lill, at the age of 91.