Leading the way with a double, rising star trainer Michael Hickmott was one of seven provincial trainers to lead in winners on the Parks track at Morphettville last Saturday.
Hickmott is leading the Adelaide trainers premiership with 11 winners, two clear of nearest rival Phillip Stokes.
Hickmott brought up his first winner when three-year-old first-starter Oath of Omerta won a benchmark 72 over 1050 metres.
Ridden by Todd Pannell, Oath of Omerta ($20) came from near last to get up in the shadows of the post.
Hickmott says the Roman Emperor colt is likely to start in an 1800-metre race at Flemington on Melbourne Cup day then go for a spell ahead of a tilt at the SA Derby (2500m) next May.
Hickmott was full of praise for Eran Boyd’s work around his Murray Bridge stable after she guided Fearless Vision ($7) to an on-pace win in the 1000-metre benchmark 58.
On a good day for the family, Hickmott’s father, John, won the 2250-metre benchmark 76 with Classy Joe ($17), who was ridden by Jeffrey Maund.  
Hickmott senior brought up his second winner for the weekend when Sairyn Fawke steered Magnetic Edge to victory in a 1300-metre Class 2 handicap at Naracoorte on Sunday. 
Bridge on fire
The Gifford Hill training facility at Murray Bridge had a particularly good day on the Parks track, its stables providing five of the nine winners.
Apart from the three Hickmott winners, Mick Huxtable-trained four-year-old gelding Ritrattto ($5.50) led all the way under Ryan Hurdle in a 1550-metre benchmark 64 handicap and the Bob Richard-trained Star Hills took out a 1000-metre special-conditions handicap. 
Star Hills ($3 favourite) came from midfield position to register his eighth win from 28 starts and fourth in a row.
Saturday’s other out-of-town winners were Strathalbyn’s Kirsti Evans rounded with Maid In Milan ($26) in a 1250-metre benchmark 62 and Naracoorte’s Sue and Jason Jaensch with Alsvior ($3) in a benchmark 72 over 1300 metres. Justin Potter and Paul Gatt were the winning riders.
Quietly superior
Exceed And Excel filly Quietly Discreet kicked off a memorable day for Phillip Stokes with her victory over stablemate Bottom Line in the benchmark 64 for three-year-olds on the Parks track.
Coming off a maiden win on the main track a week earlier, the $1.45 favourite cruised home by three lengths under Kayla Crowther.
Stokes later took the Group 2 Thousand Guineas Prelude at Caulfield with unbeaten filly Instant Celebrity.
Oppy on a roll
Young gun apprentice Jacob Opperman was the star of Sunday’s Naracoorte fixture with a treble in successive races — Lucian for Sue Murphy, Atomic Wizard for Lee Creek and the Darryl Dodson-trained Lucadonis.   

Halogen burns bright
Father/son duo Tony and Calvin McEvoy took the training honours at Murray Bridge on Wednesday, both their winners ridden by senior stable hoop Barend Vorster. They combined to win with Halogen ($2.80 favourite), a half-brother to Sunlight, in a 1200-metre maiden and Around the Horn ($3.60) in a 1600-metre maiden.
Apprentice Margaret Collett shared the riding spoils with Vorster, winning a benchmark 64 on the Grant Kluske-trained Atomic Lokade ($3.90) and a 2000-metre maiden/Class 1 plate on the Philippe Huserot-trained Happy Atom, who was the subject of a betting plunge from $34 into $10.