SA Jockey Title is Within Milne’s Grasp

Over the weekend, Rochelle Milnes tightened her grip on the Adelaide Jockeys Premiership with a polished Gawler performance that not only restored her four-win buffer over Tayla Johnstone but also came moments after Lachie Neindorf had briefly closed the gap with a win of his own. According to racingsa.com.au, Neindorf had partnered The Western Front to victory for Victoria, but Milnes hit back immediately, guiding the Jon O’Connor-trained Winning Revolution to a smart success on the rain-affected track. The 5YO gelding, a veteran of seven wins and now with over $320,000 in prizemoney, was able to use barrier one to full effect, settling closer than usual thanks to Milnes’ assertive ride. O’Connor praised both horse and jockey post-race, noting the positive shift in tactics. “He’s probably described as a backmarker, but the only reason he gets so far back is that he’s had a shocking run with barriers his whole life,” he said. “On the odd occasion, he draws a gate, he can park as close as you like, and today, from the one gate, Rochelle was able to use it, and he always looked good in the run. It’s only her second ride on him, and she did a great job.” Also at Gawler, trainer Michael Hickmott enjoyed a winning double with Motorace and Wine Barron, the latter ridden by visiting Victorian apprentice Emily Pozman, who may now have a Darwin Cup tilt to look forward to. Meanwhile, over at Port Augusta on Sunday, Ichibansan claimed the City of Port Augusta Cup for Kylie McKerlie and jockey Dylan Caboche. The gelding led all the way and held off a determined late challenge from Our Destrier, giving McKerlie a satisfying result with a horse once considered a reluctant competitor. “He’s turned into a horse that tries,” she said. “He used to be a horse that threw the towel in when he got challenged, but now he seems to love the dirt.” The win took Ichibansan’s tally to nine and prizemoney to nearly $400,000 – an impressive record, even if it falls short of the exploits of his more celebrated Group 1-winning half-brother Dalasan.