First try at Valley lands SA pair a win
A trip across the border from South Australia to Moonee Valley has proven a successful one for trainer Jeff Searle and apprentice Anna Jordsjo.
Tildy Lad gave the pair victory at Moonee Valley at their first try, taking out the WT Partnership Handicap on Saturday.
Backed from $41 to $31, Tildy Lad held off a late challenge from Ashlor ($8.50), with the $2.70 favourite Wise Hero 2-3/4 lengths away third.
Searle, who trains just over the South Australian border at Bordertown, is a regular visitor to Victorian country tracks but had previously had only two runners in the metropolitan area of Melbourne.
“It’s my first time here. I didn’t even know where the winners’ enclosure was,” Searle said.
“We thought he’d like the Valley and we’d been thinking of coming over for the past 12 months.
“He was a last start winner in Adelaide and we thought he’d run all right but to win is just amazing.”
Searle was a lone traveller to Moonee Valley on Saturday, with the gelding’s owners preferring to stay home and attend a football match in Bordertown.
He said he might return to Moonee Valley in two weeks for another 1200m race.
Jordsjo, who has ridden 14 city winners in Adelaide, was having her first metropolitan ride in Melbourne.
She had only recently returned from a holiday in her native Norway and had partnered Tildy Lad to victory at Morphettville on May 12.
“It’s a huge thrill,” Jordsjo said.
“I’ve obviously watched a lot of races from here and I’ve always liked the look of Moonee Valley.
“It’s a dream come true to come here and win, especially at my first ride.”
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