Avdulla strikes paydirt with Black On Gold

Brenton Avdulla has posted a century of wins in NSW for the third successive season as Sydney’s premiership-leading jockey found redemption with Black On Gold.

Disappointed after the gelding was unable to find decent running in his previous start at Randwick on April 22, Avdulla reunited with the developing stayer to score the benchmark 78 Sydney Market Foundation Handicap (1800m) for three-year-olds at Rosehill on Saturday.

The three-quarters-of-a-length win enabled Avdulla to reach triple figures statewide and maintain a double-digit buffer over Kerrin McEvoy in the metropolitan standings.

“I’ve had a week-and-a-half off, come back a bit fresher and we’ve hit the ground running again,” Avdulla said of his break in Vanuatu.

“I’m feeling good and I’ve got a strong three months of the season left,” he said, offering similar thoughts about the Chris Waller-trained Black On Gold.

“He’s still learning his craft but as the distances get longer he’ll be more comfortable.

“It wouldn’t surprise me to see him develop into a genuine stayer that we’re going to see in the stakes races.”

After being boxed in on the fence in his previous start, Avdulla piloted Black On Gold ($5.50) wide on the home turn and surged from ninth at 400m to catch stablemate Octavian Augustus ($12).

Another Waller runner, $4 favourite Oklahoma Girl, placed two lengths adrift in third.

Waller’s stable representative, Liam Prior, was pleased to see Black On Gold find open ground on a good 4.

“He was pretty stiff last start and I said to Brenton, if he gets a nice run midfield, try and get him out in the open with a bit of clear room,” Prior said.

Black On Gold’s next start is likely to be the Group Three Grand Prix Stakes (2200m) at Eagle Farm on May 27.