Southern NSW-based jockey Blaike McDougall made one of his rare trips to Melbourne to land his first metropolitan winner of the season aboard Qeyaady at Sandown.
McDougall does a lot of riding for the Lindsay Park operation of Tom Dabernig and Ben Hayes in the north-east of Victoria and over the border in NSW.
With a number of Melbourne jockeys riding in Adelaide, McDougall got the call up to partner Qeyaady in the Ladbrokes Handicap (1000m) on Saturday.
McDougall did not let the side down guiding the $3.10 Neds favourite to a 1-¾ length victory from Gulf Of Suez ($3.90) with Glamour And Glory ($4.80) the same margin off third.
Saturday victory was McDougall’s fifth in Melbourne during his career and enabled him to extend his lead in the Australian Jockeys’ Premiership taking his tally to 150 along with two dead-heat prizes for the season.
Dara O’Meachair, representing the Lindsay Park team, said McDougall was an integral part of the stable, particularly in the north-east of the state.
“I like the way Blake fired him out of the gates and controlled the race,” O’Meachair said.
“He gave a good kick and it was good to see him strong through the line. “He’s a lovely little horse and the last time he ran here we said the dream is still alive having a beautiful pedigree and that remains true.”
Qeyaady is expected to go through the sales ring when he finishes his current campaign.
He races under the Shadwell Stud Australasia banner which is selling all their horses, including broodmares, yearlings and racing stock, following the death of Sheikh Hamdan in March.
