Triple treat for Hutchinson
It was a day out on Saturday for apprentice jockey Tala Hutchinson, claiming her first metropolitan winning treble and saluting in a maiden stakes success.
Hutchinson piloted Bootlegger for a wire-to-wire victory in the Sportsbet Leon Macdonald Stakes (1400m), who had all her rivals chasing late down the outside of the Parks circuit.
Bootlegger turned for home with a slender lead before outlasting challenges from Cote Atlantique and Air Assault to win by less than one length.
The 24-year-old was thrilled with the victory, which came from trainers Dan Clarken and Oopy MacGillivray, and part-owner Robert Hill-Smith.
“He’s such a good horse, he’s been working the house down,” Hutchinson said.
“It’s a big thrill to be able to get one up for the bosses – I’m just so excited.
“I’m very grateful for them putting me on, and Robert, for having faith in me – it’s just a huge thrill.”
Tala Hutchinson celebrates with Dan Clarken (middle) and brothers Liam (left) and Marcis (right). Picture: Makoto Kaneko
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Clarken was at Morphettville on Saturday to see the second stakes win for Bootlegger after a Morphettville Guineas victory earlier in the year.
“That’s a huge thrill to get her up to do that. It’s awesome,” Clarken said.
“He’s a great little horse. He’s tough as teak.
“We said to Tala, ‘you’ve got to get to the right part of the track’, she’s done it and it’s paid dividends.”
Clarken is now targeting next month’s Balaklava Cup for Bootlegger, with the options of the Murray Bridge Cup, Gawler Cup or John Letts Cup.
Hutchinson rode the last three winners of Saturday’s nine-race card at Morphettville Parks, starting with leading Cradle Of Jazz to victory in the The Fotobase Group Handicap (1994m), but her third winner of the day was the best, staying on the inside rail to lead Jacks On Ice to win the Sportsbet Feed Handicap (1250m).
As Hutchinson dominated the second half of Saturday’s card, it was another apprentice, Caitlin Tootell, who starred early on, claiming a winning treble of her own after just the first four races on the card.
Tootell started the day by guiding Pretty Baby home in the Dominant Clean Sweep Handicap (1250m) for Gordon Richards and Damien Moyle, then saluted with Maxildo for Jon O’Connor in the Sportsbet Get On Extra Handicap (1579m) before rounding out the triple delight with Starlite Valley for Kym Healy in the Adelaide Galvanising Industries Handicap (1000m).
Tootell has now got six winners to take the early lead in the Adelaide jockeys’ premiership, while trainers Richards and Moyle secured a double with Pretty Baby and Fast Tempo, who claimed victory in the Canadian Club Handicap (1400m) with jockey Jason Holder on board.
