Southern Tern makes it successive wins

Albany jockey Mitchell Pateman has levelled up with Lucy Warwick in the Great Southern jockeys’ premiership after storming home to win aboard Southern Tern at Mt Barker Turf Club last Thursday.

Pateman won the title last season and has begun 2017-18 brightly with four winners from the opening three meetings to join Warwick at the top of the standings.

Southern Tern was a $5 chance on the tote in the Trevor Allison Handicap (1100m) and settled last before Pateman made his move nearing the home corner.

Turning into the straight in sixth position, the five-year-old gelding produced a strong sprint finish down the outside to gobble up $2.30 favourite Mega Minx nearing the line.

After winning at Narrogin in the same class at his previous start, the Peter and Matt Giadresco-trained runner has now recorded consecutive wins for the first time.

“He ran really good today and has put a couple together,” Matt Giadresco said after the race.

“He is a handy type of horse on the way up.

“A graduation race in town is not far away for him on that run.”

Stablemates Mighty Chance and Prentice also ran minor placings to round out a strong day for the Giadresco stable.

Jockey Randy Tan prevailed in a driving finish to the Viv Taylor Maiden (1300m) with well-tried mare Molly Kisses.

Having her 22nd start, the six-year-old was urged to the line by Tan to defeat a flashing Defiantly by a long head, with Mighty Chance a neck away in third.

“She just needed time — she was always so immature,” trainer Dennis McAuliffe said.

“I hope she can keep improving.

“She has pulled up big and was probably still underdone.”

Co-trainers Daniel and Ben Pearce registered a win on the seven-race card with promising three-year-old Paradise Square, winning a fighting finish to the Steve And Coralie Caporn Maiden (1100m) by a head.

It was a frustrating day for the Pearce camp after Time To Hunt was beaten as a $1.30 favourite in the opening race.

The well-tried Hashtag ran sixth in race 2 and Mega Minx was a narrow runner-up.

Pateman rode his first Group 1 placing on Saturday aboard the Justin Warwick-trained Material Man.

Material Man was a $32 chance on the tote in the $1 million Kingston Town Classic (1800m) and settled midfield before storming home to run second to Pounamu, beaten by half a length.

It was Pateman’s fifth ride in a Group 1 race and was his only engagement at the Ascot card.