Donald proved a happy hunting ground for Ballarat pair Leticia Griffin and Dean Larsson on Saturday afternoon.
Riding in her first competitive race, young jockey Griffin landed victory aboard Dan O’Sullivan-trained Captain Crackerjak in a benchmark 58 event over 1000m.
Griffin, who is apprenticed to O’Sullivan, drove the four-year-old to an early lead and held off all the challengers to score a narrow debut win in the saddle.
Later in the day, Larsson secured his maiden success as a trainer.
The former hoop prepared Easy Drama for an upset victory – also in a benchmark 58 – in what was his 11th starter as a trainer.
Jack Hill positioned the five-year-old gelding worse than midfield in the early stages before unleashing a sustained run around the turn and down the straight to eventually score a one-length triumph.
