Li'l Hank provided talented Murray Bridge horseman Jordan Frew with the biggest result of his training career winning the $102,250 Happy Trails Series Final at Morphettville at the weekend.
Slow into stride from a good barrier proved a blessing in disguise as Territory Titan and Outpost set a blistering tempo up front before Li’l Hank was too strong late to claim the feature with Mitchell Aitken in the saddle.
Promising four-year-old Royal Mile showed the benefit of his first-up run to bounce back to winning form and book a ticket across the border in the process.
The Group 3 Chairman’s Stakes winner did all the work before scoring a soft win, his sixth victory from just 11 starts with Jacob Opperman in the saddle.
Jake Toeroek took riding honours with a double winning the opening race on Rodeo, who upstaged short-priced favourite and stablemate Keep Reading, before winning with Chosen Blonde later in the day.
Toeroek has ridden 10 city winners for the season riding at almost 20 per cent runners to winners.
Meanwhile Jacob Opperman capped a busy weekend with a riding double at Penola on Sunday securing the leading apprentice his 100th win.
Opperman scored early in the day with Mulga Lil for dad Jamie, before making it three wins in succession aboard the Lee Creek trained Wild Willy to bring up his milestone.
He shared riding honours with Justin Potter.