South Australian trainer John Hickmott has returned to his former home town to win the Golden Topaz at Swan Hill.
Hickmott was born in Swan Hill in 1943 and took out Friday’s feature sprint at the three-day winter carnival with Crown Fontein.
Now training at Murray Bridge, Hickmott was a regular visitor to Swan Hill when based in Wangaratta before moving to his current location.
Crown Fontein is a lightly raced four-year-old and Friday’s victory was his fifth from 11 starts.
“I wanted to take him to The Goodwood but he got beaten at Oakbank,” Hickmott told broadcaster racing.com.
“He then went to Alice Springs to try and win a race to get him into The Goodwood, but that didn’t happen and the horse that just beat him at Oakbank won The Goodwood.
“He’s a good horse and tough.
“We bred him, so he’s a home grown.”
Jockey Sairyn Fawke was able to get Crown Fontein across from an awkward draw to be outside the leader.
“We weren’t going that fast and got some cheap sectionals and all he needed was to show some heart, and he’s got a big heart today,” Fawke said.
