Mature-age apprentice Tala Hutchinson will long remember last Saturday’s Morphettville Parks meeting, where she rode the last three winners, including her first stakes winner, to notch her first city treble. 
The highlight of Hutchinson’s day was her win on Bootlegger ($14) in the listed Sportsbet Leon Macdonald Stakes (1400m) for the Murray Bridge stable of Dan Clarken and Oopy MacGillivray.
Second up from a spell, Bootlegger led throughout.
It was a second listed win for the Too Darn Hot gelding, who took the Morphettville Guineas in March.
Bootlegger, part-owned by prominent businessman and winemaker Robert Hill-Smith, is now likely to contest the 1600-metre Balaklava Cup on September 16. Later options include the Murray Bridge Cup (1600m, October 3), the Gawler Cup (1500m, October 23) and the John Letts Cup (1800m, November 3).
Earlier, Hutchinson brought up the first leg of her treble when Cradle Of Jazz ($8) ran on from worse than midfield to win the benchmark 74 Fotobase Group Handicap (1994m) for Murray Bridge trainer Roslyn Day, currently enjoying a well deserved holiday in Bali.
Teaming with Geelong trainer Michael Shepherdson, Hutchinson concluded her big day with the on-pace win of Jacks On Ice ($6.50) in the benchmark 64 Sportsbet Feed Handicap (1250m).
While this was Hutchinson’s first treble at metro level, she had achieved the feat at Hawker in May 2025, bettering that at Streaky Bay in March this year by riding five winners on a six-race card.
Treble for Tootell too
Remarkably, the Parks meeting saw fellow apprentice Caitlin Tootell match Hutchinson’s feat by scoring a milestone treble — in this case, her first at any level.
Tootell opened her account when Pretty Baby ($2.50 favourite) came from well back to win the benchmark 66 Dominant Clean Sweep Handicap (1250m), giving Gordon Richards and Damien Moyle the first leg of a training double.
Tootell landed the second leg of her treble when last-start winner Maxildo ($4.20) led all the way in the benchmark 64 Sportsbet Get On Extra Handicap (1579m) for Jon O’Connor.
Tootell completed her treble on Starlite Valley ($16) in the benchmark 70 Adelaide Galvanising Industries Handicap (1000m). 
Prepared at Strathalbyn by Kym Healy, Starlite Valley came from well back down the outside fence with a strong run over the concluding stages. 
The eight-year old mare, who was bought for $600 online, has recorded 10 wins from 59 starts, winning $460,000 in prizemoney.
Richards and Moyle completed their double when Fast Tempo ($4.60) came from near the rear to win the 0-68 Canadian Club Handicap (1400m) under Jason Holder.
Pairs for Polly, Potter
There were more apprentices in the spotlight at Port Augusta last Sunday, with Polly Brewster and Sophie Potter scoring a  double apiece.
Brewster won on the Brenton Jones-trained Our Divinyl ($1.90 favourite) in an 1100-metre benchmark 58 and the Stephen Lenehan-trained The Mariner ($16) in 0-52 grade over 1100 metres. 
Potter teamed with Balaklava trainer Kate Halliday for wins on Kohala ($7.50) in a 1498-metre maiden plate and on 11-year-old Augusta Rock ($4.80) in a 1498-metre 0-52 handicap.