Mature-age apprentice Matthew Chadwick has started the new season as he finished the old — with a metropolitan Saturday double.
 Chadwick, now under the guidance of Morphettville trainer Chris Bieg, came to SA last September from the Cranbourne stable of Mick Price and Michael Kent junior.
The 26-year-old brought up the first leg of last Saturday’s Murray Bridge double when the Nicole Irwin-trained Thermodynamic ($21) came from better than midfield to take out a benchmark 66 handicap of 1600 metres. 
Chadwick completed his double coming from fourth with a well timed run on Morris Minor ($6.50) in an 1100-metre benchmark 72 handicap for Craig Curtis.
Speaking afterwards, Curtis said he wished he had a stable full of Morris Minors as the gelding is a real trier.
No trouble for Bubbles            
Senior hoop Jake Toeroek shared the honours with Chadwick at the Bridge, kicking off his double Bellakia ($11) won the benchmark 62 over 2000 metres for Warrnambool trainer Symon Wilde.
Toeroek was in the winner’s circle for the second time after the in-form Fast Bubbles ($11) powered home from last to win a benchmark 76 over 1400 metres.
The Wayne Francis and Glen Kent-trained Hellbent gelding came into his current preparation with one Murray Bridge maiden win to show for his 13 starts, but is undefeated from four starts this campaign.
Start of something big?
Jacob Opperman has been named the new number-one hoop for the Morphettville stable of Phillip Stokes, with Lachlan Neindorf to do his future riding in Victoria, and it didn’t take long for the new partnership to meet with success.
Stolen Kiss ($10) came from a rearward position to win the second city race of the new SA season — a 1200-metre maiden at the Bridge.    
Two for Tootell
Apprentice Caitlin Tootell was the star of last Sunday’s Gawler fixture with a bookend double.  Her winners were the Scott Whittle-trained Los Alamoss ($4.40) in a 1700-metre maiden plate and the Shayne and Chelsea trained Justica’s Bonus ($4.60) in 0-56 grade over 1200 metres.
Robert rocks Roxby
Murray Bridge trainer Garret Lynch kept his good run in country cups when apprentice Alysha Warren rode Dr Robert to victory in last Saturday’s Roxby Downs Cup (1800m).
Lynch’s runners won the Hawker Cup and the Wolf Blass Rascals Cup late last season.
In another highlight at Roxby Downs, apprentice Tahlia Hardy scored on her first race ride, when the Luke O’Connor-trained Bad Girl Bubbles ($3.20 favourite) won a 1000-metre maiden.  
Hardy was again in the winner’s circle after the Trevor Montgomerie-trained Royalz ($11) won in 0-52 class over 1400 metres.
Rochelle gets rolling  
Reigning premier Adelaide jockey Rochelle Milnes joined Jake Toeroek and Matthew Chadwick setting the early pace in 2025/26 with a running double on the Parks track at Morphettville on Wednesday.
Milnes’s first winner was the Will Clarken-trained Thunder Shoc ($2.70) in a 1000-metre maiden plate. A race later she scored on the Mark Lewis-trained Unpraised ($31) in a 1400-metre maiden.