The burgeoning talent of apprentice Dylan Gibbons was on display at Randwick with the emerging young rider celebrating an early double to bring up a century of wins for the season.
Indentured to leading Newcastle trainer Kris Lees, Gibbons dictated terms to lead throughout aboard Zadig for Jean Dubois in the TAB Highway Handicap (1500m), then brought two-year-old Wingardium with a sweeping run from near the rear to claim the Schweppes Handicap (1100m).
The young rider was thrilled to reach the 100-winner milestone aboard the Bjorn Baker-trained youngster, particularly in town on a Saturday.
“It’s not a bad way to do it,” Gibbons said.
“I was a bit worried early because the plan was to be in the first four and we got skittled out of the gates and I thought, oh well, I’ve got to go back to Plan B.
“I was getting worried because the saddle slipped back on a two-year-old and I thought we were out of play.
“But once I gave her a bit of a slap-up and got her into the bridle, I thought I was always going to run on, but I didn’t know if she had too much to do.
“She is obviously a promising horse for the future.”
A daughter of Golden Slipper winner Vancouver, the youngster raced handy to the speed when second on debut over 1000m at Goulburn and while Saturday’s race didn’t go to plan, she showed another string to her bow.
Settling back in the field, Wingardium ($17) stormed down the outside to defeat Forecaster ($19) by a half-length with What’s Going On ($19) another short neck away third.
Loren Wadsworth, racing manager for syndicators Darby Racing, said Wingardium had continued to improve and looked to have a bright future.
“She has obviously come on in leaps and bounds with confidence and I couldn’t be more proud of her today,” Wadsworth said.
“Right now, where she’s at, the way she found the line, it’s all ahead of her.
“I’m sure she will keep flying through her grades and credit to Dylan, obviously his 100th winner, he rode her beautifully and Bjorn’s team have done an excellent job.”
