Champion hoop Shaun Cooper finished with a double and two seconds to take riding honours on a day that ended on a sour note for the jockeys’ room and the rest of the picnic community at Healesville last Saturday.
Winning Post extends its wishes for a speedy recovery to veteran rider Ray Douglas, who fractured the T7 and T9 vertebrae in his back when dislodged from his mount Popeye The Sailor on the first lap of the final race of the day.
The race was abandoned mid-running with Douglas, who rode his 800th winner almost two years ago, being attended by medical staff.
Fingers crossed “Razor” is back on track and adding to his haul sooner rather than later.
Fellow jockey Cooper started the season slowly, but has kicked into gear to sit atop the premiership table on eight wins from 33 rides, with 17 minor placings.
The first leg of his double came up in race two when he steered Cranbourne trainer Rui Severino’s Windy Wheels ($6) to a maiden victory.
The four-year-old son of Shalaa had 12 unplaced runs in Queensland before arriving in Victoria with his trainer, improving on a fourth at Yea a week earlier to get the cash at Healesville.
The second leg of Cooper’s double was easier to find and a much more popular result for punters. The Andrew Dale-trained $2.25 favourite Rushford was well placed at the picnics after his TAB win at Wangaratta 18 days earlier.
Almost six years since his debut win at Traralgon in 2018 for Nick Harnett, Rushford was bringing up the fourth win of his career at just his fourth start for Dale.
Wisdom prevails
The day began in memorable fashion for dual licence-holder Tyson Barton, who trained and rode the first winner.
War of Wisdom ($10) was having her first start since she won at Balnarring in January this year, and was perfectly prepared by Barton for the 1000-metre first-up assignment.
A daughter of The Brothers War, War of Wisdom has now won three of 14 and looks poised for a productive campaign if she remains sound.
The narrow win denied Nicole Dickson’s in-form mare Spirit Maker (ridden by Cooper) an early season hat-trick after wins at Healesville and Balnarring.
Kel delivers one-two
Mornington trainer Kelvin Southey kept up his good form, with his two runners for the day running the quinella in the 1650-metre maiden.
Palentino mare Joyas ($4.40) ended a frustrating run of six minor placings to break through for a deserved win under Rowan Cox.
She scored by 2¼ lengths from stablemate Second Guess with Shaun Cooper in the saddle.
Pakenham trainer Michael Huglin is also having a good run, and stable newcomer Marco Spada ($4.60) made it two from two at the picnics this season.
The Street Boss gelding and partner Grant Seccombe held off a late challenge by reigning Horse of the Year Shahin to notch the fourth win of his 39-start career.
Huglin has also enjoyed success this month on TAB programs at Bairnsdale with Tarzi Calling and at Bendigo with Private Jumbo.