Beau Mertens outrides his claim

A Listed race win on Highland Beat in the A R Creswick Series Final has given star apprentice Beau Mertens his second milestone of the day at Flemington.

After bringing up his 100th winner for the season with his victory aboard Schism in the Leilani Series Final earlier on Saturday’s program, Highland Beat’s success meant Mertens has outridden his claim.

The win was Mertens’ 70th metropolitan winner in Victoria this season and his 80th overall.

It is a significant achievement for the 19-year-old given he only rode his first city winner in April last year.

“It’s obviously a big thrill,” Mertens said.

“And to do it so quickly and to ride my last one in a Listed race for the Lindsay Park team is a big achievement for me. It gives me a lot of confidence.”

Mertens started Saturday one win ahead of the suspended Craig Williams in the Melbourne jockeys’ premiership.

Highland Beat, trained by David and Ben Hayes and Tom Dabernig, got home by a long neck in Saturday’s 1200m straight race for three-year-olds, with Hay Bale second and Ken’s Dream another half-head away third.