Top Victorian horseman Nick Ryan recorded his first Adelaide feature at Morphettville on the Parks on Saturday when Material Dreams grabbed a last-stride win in the $120,000 Listed Nitschke Stakes (1400m).
After drifting back in a race where there was genuine tempo with Overstrike free rolling in the lead, Opperman was forced to get rolling before the home turn where she joined in strongly before holding off fellow Victorian Miss Aria and an eye-catching Spirit Of Camelot.
“She jumped quite well, it probably didn’t plan out the way I wanted it to’’ Opperman said.
“(She) blended into the race at the right time and just got the head in.
“She got their quite easy but half floated when she got the front, but she dug in and got the win,’’ he said.
It was the first leg of a riding double for Opperman who claimed the last race of the day with Jazz Affair.
Rochelle Milnes capped a big week after securing South Australia victory in the National Apprentice Series in Queensland on Wednesday grabbing herself a metropolitan riding double with Magic Max and Sunzou.
The Sunzou win made most impressive by the fact horse broke through the barriers just before the start, dislodging the talented rider before passing a veterinary inspection and leading throughout to land some solid bets.
“Barrie one, being in first, he’s a pretty smart horse and as soon as he hears a bit of a rattle and a crash he just wants to go,’’ Milnes said.
“He’s actually a really beautiful horse, to his credit he knew he wasn’t supposed to go when he got out early.
“I knew I’d be leading, I wanted to pinch a break on the turn, he’s still working it out and has a lot of upside,’’ she said.
Todd Pannell also claimed a riding double in combination with Will Clarken and Niki O’Shea stable, Episodic making it two wins in succession before Sweetened was successful later in the day.
Milnes carried that form the opening meeting of the Port Augusta season on Sunday winning with Evening Bride for the John Dunn and Krystal Bishop stable, while Caitlin Tootell recorded her first win since joining the Aaron Bain and Ned Taylor stable when Shalaga was successful.
