Dom Tourneur kicked off the 2023-24 metropolitan season with a bang, claiming a riding treble at Murray Bridge on Saturday.
Tourneur combined with Victorian horseman Matt Laurie and Esecutore early in the day before extending his strong association with the Peter and Belinda Blanch-trained Validated who recorded his fifth win from just nine starts.
“He’s certainly a horse I do like,’’ Tourneur said.
“He’s a real gentleman and certainly got a motor there.
“He’s done it with authority, he’s certainly a progressive horse,’’ he said.
Tourneur’s big day completed when Hasta La Fiorente scored a dominant 3.8 length win for Naracoorte trainer Sue Murphy.
Local horseman Michael Hickmott landed a training double on his home track, Alpine Flyer justifying a solid betting push before Exalted Fire extended his impressive record since joining Hickmott’s Murray Bridge stable with border hopping jockey Campbell Rawiller in the saddle.
“Credit to the team, they’ve had him up for a little bit, but he’s done a really good job to maintain his form,’’ Rawiller said.
“He loves racing, he loves winning,’’ he said.
The brilliant start to Chelsey Reynolds’ riding career continued when she won the Roxby Downs Cup aboard Aussie Sojourn for Gawler trainer Michael McClean.
Just six days after winning at her first ever race ride, Reynolds claimed her first country feature with Aussie Sojourn scoring an impressive 3.5 length win.