APPRENTICE jockey Nathan Rose captured one his biggest career triumphs aboard one of his favourite gallopers at Ballarat's Dowling Forest racecourse yesterday.
Rose partnered Stephen Theodore-trained Sivadio to victory over Darren Weir's Streaky Fella and David Racovolis's Our Tycoon in the $100,000 CRV Community Cup, 2000m, continuing a prolific association with the six-year-old gelding.
"It has all really been about this horse. I've had six rides on him now for four wins, a second and a third and he has just been fantastic for me," Rose said.
"A $100,000 race I think is the biggest I've won so it's a big thrill."
The success was also a rewarding one for the Theodore stable, which took over training of the horse late last year, taking little time to turn his fortunes around.
Before to heading to Theodore's Cranbourne stables, the son of Scenic had won just two races, but has since gone on to win five of his 16 outings since arriving at his new home.
"It's not easy to win a race anywhere, let alone a $100,000 race so the stable gets a bit of a pat on the back for a non-winner turning into a real genuine racehorse," Theodore said.
"He has been through a few stables and had not been performing up to standard so they (connections) keep trying different places. Once he found his way into my place we just ironed out a few little wrinkles with his back and his state of mind.
"We gave him a few kills. We took them as weak as possible at the start and built his confidence up."
Theodore admitted another key to Sivadio's success had been the wet tracks, like the "heavy" he prevailed on at Ballarat yesterday.
Sivadio has now won seven of his 37 career outings.