Promising three-year-old Glorious Moments has delivered jockey Heavelon Van Der Hoven a timely milestone.
Jockey Heavelon Van Der Hoven has orchestrated a perfect farewell to Sydney racing, celebrating his first NSW metropolitan win at his final meeting.
The 32-year-old, who will relocate to Brisbane from Sunday, steered the Jim and Greg Lee-trained Glorious Moments ($3.80 equal fav) to an emphatic 4-1/4 length victory in Saturday's The Agency Real Estate Handicap (1300m), the hoop's first city success during his five years in the harbour city.
"I wish it happened earlier, but I'm very grateful for the opportunity and to the team for giving me the support that they have here," Van Der Hoven said.
"Hopefully I can stay on him."
Van Der Hoven said he wouldn't hesitate to make the trip back to partner the three-year-old at his next outing, Glorious Moments having put together impressive back-to-back wins to start his latest campaign.
He was a class above his rivals at Randwick and Van Der Hoven felt he had plenty of upside.
"He was a bit soft in the run. He didn't know when to travel and when to relax," he said.
"He is still raw and he's very exciting.
"He's got a good turn of foot which in the future will be a clear advantage."
Glorious Moments is prepared by the Lee brothers, two of the longest serving trainers at Randwick.
They put the polish on 1983 Caulfield Cup winner Hayai and in more recent years have captured stakes races with the likes of Fouardee and Keepin' The Dream.
Warwick Farm-based horseman David Pfieffer is keen to raise the bar for in-form mare Oh Diamond Lil ($2.70 fav) after she made it three wins from five starts this campaign with a tough performance in the Mostyn Cooper Handicap (1600m).
The four-year-old stalked leader Aberlour ($4.20), who was brave in defeat, eventually getting the better of the runner-up to score by two lengths with that pair gapping the rest.
Oh Diamond Lil will go for a short break with a view to better races towards the end of the year with Pfieffer nominating the Belle Of The Turf Stakes (1600m) at Gosford in December as a potential target.
"She has always been a horse who has promised a lot to us. We just had to wait for it," Pfieffer said.
"Ideally, we want to get black type for her down the track somewhere. Imagine her leading around Gosford? It's five months away but you've got to think ahead."
Pfieffer will also look at options in Melbourne, along with the Big Dance Wild Card towards the tail of the spring.
