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Progressive mare Killiako looks set for a bright spring after an impressive return to racing at Morphettville on Saturday.
The Phillip Stokes-trained mare was second leg of a riding double for Kayla Crowther after winning with Victorian raider Prophet's Choice earlier in the day and celebrated later that night claiming the South Australian Jockey of the Year Award and Provincial and Country Jockey of the Year Award at the SA Racing Industry Awards for a second successive year.
"She's really matured this time in,'' Crowther said.
"She was clocking off a little bit, but was solid.
"I thought she was a lot more relaxed and a little bit dour this time in, but she surprised me how well she went,'' she said
Todd Pannell grabbed a riding double with Lord Vladivostok and Aitch D'Amico, the former carrying a big weight to a welcome return to the winner's circle.
"He's a wonderful little horse,'' trainer Michael Hickmott said who has his eyes on a hometown win in the Murray Bridge Gold Cup with the horse who finished third in 2021 and then narrowly beaten in second spot last year.
"He's been a heartbreaker, he's been extremely unlucky, I love him to bits,'' he said.
Prophet's Choice wasn't the only Warrnambool galloper to grab some Adelaide success with the Aaron Purcell-trained Meiner Legacy winning smartly, kicking off what would be a huge Saturday for leading jockey Jason Holder who would go on to claim a third John Letts Medal later that night.
Morphettville trainer George Karayannis getting an instant result with Nightpost at just his second run for the stable powering over the top of rivals with Ryan Hurdle in the saddle, while progressive mare Connemara Queen made it two wins in succession in the last race of the day.
