Tootell’s maiden stakes success
Pretty Baby overcame some anxious moments before the gates opened, but then cruised to a half length win in the Sportsbet David Peacock Oaklands Plate (1400m) at Morphettville Parks on Saturday.
The two-year-old filly was coming off two recent place finishes and her maiden win on Saturday gave jockey Caitlin Tootell the highlight of her young career to date.
Tootell has 129 career winners, but Saturday’s victory aboard Pretty Baby was her maiden stakes triumph.
Even in victory, both Tootell can see improvement in Pretty Baby, trained by Gordon Richards and Damien Moyle.
“I rode her last start, and I said, ‘she’s just doing things wrong’ and she still did a lot wrong today,” Tootell said, and her stakes win was her 25th winner of the metro season and she now holds a three-win lead over fellow jockey Alysha Warren in the apprentice title race.
Caitlin Tootell and her father, former jockey David Tootell, celebrate Saturday’s victory. Picture: Makoto Kaneko
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Warren also claimed a winner on Saturday, when she led Davida to a two-length victory in the SAJC Membership Now Open Handicap (1300m) for trainer Danny O’Brien.
Tootell’s achievement wasn’t the only maiden victory on the Parks track at Morphettville on Saturday.
Mildura trainer Raharna McDonald scored a first metropolitan winner when Canny Defense saluted in the opening event, the Dominant Clean Sweep Handicap (1568m).
The five-year-old gelding had an impressive run along the rail late for the half length victory for jockey Stacey Metcalfe.
Murray Bridge-based geldings Snoopy Now and Stirrup Cup also claimed victories. Snoopy Now winning the Sportsbet Blackbook Handicap (1568m) for jockey Taylor Johnstone and trainer Darryl Hewitt, while Stirrup Cup took out the PFD Food Services Handicap (1973m) in a nail-biting finish for jockey Harry Grace and trainer Sarah Rutten.
Omaha Dawn won out over a spirited run from Sir Now to claim the Sportsbet Jockey Watch Handicap (1000m) for jockey Jason Holder and trainer Andrew Gluyas. The win also extended Holder’s lead in the Adelaide jockey premiership to 10 wins over nearest rival Jacob Opperman.
Grace won riding honours on Saturday’s nine-race card, with a double aboard Stirrup Cup and also claiming victory aboard Falanghina in the Festival Hire Handicap (1400m).
The Stokes yard scored a double of its own with Nicish winning the Sportsbet Green Tick Handicap (1250m) with Brooke King aboard and Falanghina to continue their strong lead in the Adelaide trainers’ premiership with 40 wins, with the metro season coming to a close at Morphettville on July 25.
