Apprentice Luke Dittman has outridden his three kilogram claim with victory aboard consistent stayer Shotover River at Doomben on Saturday.
The son of former champion jockey Mick Dittman has been gradually making his own name in the tough racing game.
One of the tallest jockeys riding in Australia, Dittman has been able to get his riding weight down to 54kg since he moved to the Gold Coast earlier this year.
He made it 20 metropolitan winners when Shotover River ($2.25) scored by a long head over Kaypers ($5) with two lengths to Castle Express ($6.50) in the All Cool Industries Open Hcp (2220m).
“I’m down to a two kilogram claim now but hopefully the good rides will keep coming,” Dittman said.
Shotover River has been in great form winning his past three starts and four overall this campaign.
Co-trainer Dan Meagher said the use of a treadmill was behind the six-year-old’s purple patch of form.
“For a stayer he always looks a bit fat and he scales 492 kilos. But we have the training regime worked out pretty well and we use a treadmill with him a lot,” Meagher said.
“He was on the treadmill two days this week and it seems to keep him fit.”
Meagher said the stable had been keen to take Shotover River to Sydney to test him over 2400m.
“But we may put that on hold. There is another one of these open staying races over 2200m in a fortnight so why would we go to Sydney at this stage when you can race for $65,000 here against relatively easier company,” he said.
