Emerging apprentice Dylan Gibbons has provided a bright spot on a wet and muddy day at Canterbury with a winning treble for his master Kris Lees.
While the heavy 10 conditions ensured a tough afternoon for most riders, Gibbons made it a meeting to remember, opening his account aboard Always On Show in the third race, and adding to his tally on Samoot and Ting Tong.
He fell just short of making it a four-time when the Nathan Doyle-trained Super Bright was third to Ten Bells in a three-way finish to the Download The TAB App Today Handicap (1200m).
“I’m having a great day, I think I’m one of very few who are,” Gibbons said.
Ting Tong was having his second run back after a Queensland Derby preparation in which he finished a closing sixth to Pinarello in the Group 1 classic.
Despite being trapped wide early in Wednesday’s race, Gibbons didn’t panic, keeping Ting Tong in a steady rhythm before striding up to camp off the leader.
The four-year-old surged to the front around the home turn and went on with the job to take out the Palace Pier @ Darley Handicap (1900m) by more than four lengths and while Gibbons said Ting Tong was suited by the heavy track, he still felt the horse did a marvellous job.
“I know track conditions played into his hands, but he had to keep finding today and he’s made a mess of them so it was a great win,” he said.
Fellow apprentice Molly Bourke was also to the fore, celebrating her first metropolitan victory aboard Zakeriz in the Vinery Stallions Handicap (1580m).
Bourke just missed bringing up the milestone aboard the Chris Hardy-trained gelding at the same venue last month when he finished a narrow second and she was rapt to go one better on Wednesday.
“That was a great thrill,” Bourke said.
“I’m thankful for the opportunity. Chris has put me back on this horse, he was close the last time I rode him here and he made it better today.”
Bourke, who claims three kilos, is apprenticed to Canberra trainer Doug Gorrel and has ridden six winners on the country circuit this season.
