The Sandown victory of Magnus Slipper was a first in the Melbourne metropolitan area for Irish jockey Alan Creighton.
A former champion jockey in Spain, Creighton moved to Australia four years ago, firstly to Western Australia before moving to Warrnambool.
He has since shifted to Mornington where he has teamed with local trainers including Carlo Vidotto, trainer of Magnus Slipper.
The victory of Magnus Slipper in the MyPunter.com Handicap (1500m) was also the first victory for Vidotto in the metropolitan area since True Response won a hurdle race at Moonee Valley in 2001.
Sent out the $3.50 favourite, Magnus Slipper scored a 1-1/2 length win over Oak Park Goblet ($4.40) with tearaway early leader Angelic Lass ($21) two lengths away third.
Creighton’s only previous metropolitan success in Australia came aboard Certain Elle in Adelaide earlier this year.
“It’s good to get one in town,” Creighton said.
“I don’t get a lot of opportunities and the big sort of jockeys haven’t gone away this winter, so it’s been slim pickings for everyone else.”
Creighton said Vidotto, along with fellow Mornington trainers Paul Rocke and Jason Petch have been good supporters since his arrival at Mornington and Magnus Slipper was his fifth winner for Vidotto.
Vidotto said he got a little extra satisfaction out of the win of Magnus Slipper who is out of the Commands mare Zarilly that won one of her nine starts for the trainer.
“She’s one we bred so it’s a bit more exciting,” Vidotto said.
“She’s got a fair bit of ability and I think she’ll have no problem handling 2000 metres.”
