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THE sensational end to 2023 for Justin Pickering and Maggie Collet continued at Gawler on Saturday.
Collet landed her first metropolitan riding treble winning the opening race aboard Montign for the Stuart Padman stable, continuing her good association with the Sue and Jason Jeansch-trained Missile Star before getting Just Like Lisa home for Justin Pickering, his sixth win from his past 12 runners.
"(We're) having a great run at the moment,'' Pickering said with Just Like Lisa now unbeaten in two South Australian runs.
Pickering was quick to credit his partner for her brilliant form since coming back from injury.
She landed her first win from a lengthy break through injury in October but has been in super form with 11 wins from 82 rides through November and December, eight coming at metropolitan level.
"Maggie is in terrific form which is really good to see,'' Pickering added.
"She should be really proud of herself the way she's going,'' he said.
Collett said Just Like Lisa, part owned by her sister Lizzie who works for Chris Waller, was a gutsy horse with upside.
"She had really good New South Wales form,'' Collett said.
"She was really tough,'' she said.
Jason Holder moved within three wins of Jake Toeroek on the Metropolitan Riders Premiership with a winning double aboard Arugamama and Exalted Dame.
Collet's good form continued winning the opening race at Bordertown on Sunday while Daryl Dodson had a training double in combination with Kayla Crowther, the pair claiming the day's feature – the Bordertown Cup – with Badonkidonk who scored a narrow win over Bungle Raider.
Jamie Opperman had a double of his own with West Cliff and Quik Rhapid successful.
And at Morphettville back on Friday night Dom Tourneur's good year continued with a riding double winning the opening race aboard the Travis Doudle-trained Manuka Bay before Cool The Jets was successful for the Blanch stable.
2023 has been a year for Tourneur who has banks 59 winners, 21 more than 2022.
Aaron Bain and Ned Taylor's big end to 2023 also extended at the twilight meeting with a training double when Battle Royale and Mighty Sapphire were successful with Jacob Opperman in the saddle.
One of SA's newest training partnerships have hit stride late in the year having produced an impressive 10 winners from their past 36 runners.
