With trainer Scott Brunton away in Melbourne, it was left to jockey Troy Baker to sing the praises of Jeremiah after his dominant win in the $50,000 Autumn 3YO Classic at Mowbray on Wednesday night.
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Jeremiah ($5 into $4.20) comfortably accounted for Diesel Dan and Mountain Music and Baker said the God's Own gelding scored with something in reserve.
"I really like this horse," the jockey said. "He's shown a lot since day one in his trials and two previous race starts."
Baker said his instructions were to be "very aggressive" from the outside gate.
"We believed that if we ended up one-one that would be perfect but, if we couldn't slot in, we'd be happy to sit outside the leader and that's what happened.
"From there I was able to dictate the race and run it to suit my horse.
"The turn of foot he showed at the finish suggests he had a lot left."
Jeremiah was having his first start since winning his maiden in early January.
He was ready to race 18 days ago in the Autumn Sprint but was found to be lame on arriving at the track and had to be withdrawn.
CLARK'S RUN CONTINUES
Star Adelaide-based apprentice Raquel Clark brought her red-hot form to Mowbray to win the $30,000 Autumn Handicap with a copybook ride on Speedonova.
After enjoying a soft run midfield on the fence, the Bill Ryan-trained mare got clear in the straight and finished too strongly for Minute Repeater and tearaway leader The Master Speed.
"It was a top ride - you can see why she is riding so many winners in Adelaide," Ryan said.
Speedonova was Clark's 10th winner in the past week.
She was back in her home state to catch up with family after riding commitments kept her in South Australia over Easter.
"I'm really enjoying it in SA - I have some really good trainers behind me and I've got great bosses who allowed me to come home and ride here tonight," she said.
EFFIE QUICKEST NEWCOMER
Brendan McShane-trained filly Effie proved too slick for a field made up entirely of first-starters in the 2YO Maiden.
Ridden by apprentice Alex Patis and one of McShane's four runners in the race, the daughter of Reward For Effort jumped in front and was never seriously threatened.
"I think she showed the best attitude of all the runners and that's probably what won her the race," McShane said.
"She came out fast and got on with the job while some of the others may have been trying to find their feet and work out what to do.
"She is bred for speed."
