Hawkesbury double a boost for Brenton Avdulla

Brenton Avdulla has a spring in his step again after Sydney’s premiership-leading jockey found a win elusive during The Championships.

Hawkesbury bore little resemblance to Randwick at the height of the autumn carnival, but Avdulla was still rapt with a riding double on Glenall and Kingsguard.

Avdulla saluted on Glenall in the Listed Hawkesbury Gold Rush (1100m) for Hawkes Racing and then gave the stable more cause for celebration when five-year-old gelding Kingsguard claimed the Group Three Hawkesbury Gold Cup (1600m).

“It’s been a frustrating month, I’ve been riding winners in between but not these Saturday winners which has been a bit disappointing,” Avdulla said.

“I’m my own harshest critic so it’s been good to get back on the board.”

Co-trainer Michael Hawkes praised Avdulla for his ride on Glenall and echoed that endorsement once Scone Cup-bound Kingsguard ($9) wore down front-runner Ecuador ($5) to win by three quarters of a length.

McCreery ($10) was a long neck third.

I’ve got to give credit to Brenton,” Hawkes said.

“I know he’s been a bit up and down but today he rode that horse perfect. He jumped and travelled and stalked Ecuador.

“I told him to be patient and let him go through his gears and he’s drawn away in the end.”