Adelaide trainer Ken Sweeney made a rare and successful Melbourne raid when outsider Riziz landed the Listed Creswick Stakes at Flemington.
In a remarkable training performance, the three-year-old won Saturday’s 1200-metre feature five weeks after his last-start win over 1600 metres in the Listed Adelaide Guineas.
Sweeney’s cousin Paul Sweeney said Social Glow, who won the 2004 Christmas Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield, was the stable’s last feature race winner in Melbourne.
“It was a long time ago,” Sweeney said.
“Ken doesn’t come over here very often unless he can win.”
Sweeney said the Creswick was a major test for Riziz and that he could be back for the spring carnival.
“Ken is sort of planning for the spring as well as races around Christmas so this was a bit of trial for the little bloke and he has come through it very well,” Sweeney said.
A son of Zariz, Riziz has now won four of his 10 starts and has been placed on another four occasions.
Jockey Chris Symons noted that Riziz led when he won the Adelaide Guineas but was happy to bide his time tracking Zamorar while Lady Melksham trailed him in the run.
“I was just hoping for a bit of pace in today’s race and didn’t really get it, but he was close enough to the action,” Symons said.
“He dug deep and I was pretty confident getting to the (clock) tower he was going to reel them in.”
Riziz ($20) and Zamorar ($3.10) came away to fight the race out with Riziz going home better to score by a half-length.
Previously unbeaten filly Lady Melksham, who started $2 favourite, was backing up a week after a five-length victory at Sandown and battled home well two lengths away third.
Zamorar’s jockey Steven Arnold told trainer David Bourne that the gelding was better on firmer ground than the slow track he encountered on Saturday.
“He will probably go for break now,” Bourne said.
Trainer John Sadler said Lady Melksham was gallant in defeat.
“The result is disappointing but I was not disappointed with her,” Sadler said.
“She’s had three wins and a third in stakes company and now she will have a freshen up.”
Sadler said the Bletchingly Stakes (1200m) on July 28 and the Group Three Cockram Stakes (1200m) on August 18 would be her next targets.
