Seven of the Nine race card to the Hills

The Hill family dominated Saturday night’s South Australian St Leger meeting at Globe Derby Park with seven wins on the nine-race program.

Champion reinsperson Danielle Hill drove four winners in a master class of her ability, Samantha Hill had a double, and husband Wayne landed the feature race, the 2025 Ladbrokes South Australian St Leger (1800m).

For Wayne Hill, the reigning Jim Hurley Medalist, victory on the SA-owned Captain Perfect, was his second win in the SA St Leger – 19 years apart, and what a difference in the prices!

Hill’s first St Leger was in the sulky of Badboy Nitro, trained by his father Gary, in 2006 at the huge odds of $71 while Captain Perfect was a near-unbackable $1.20 favourite and gave his supporters no cause for concern.

Victorian trainer Emma Stewart has made an art form of winning SA feature races but, perhaps surprisingly, this was her first SA St Leger.

Captain Perfect began well from gate three, but birthday boy Dean Girardi held the favourite out early on 100/1 outsider Oakhay which began quickly from barrier two.

After 600 metres, the favourite paced to the lead and from then on it was the Captain in a race of his own.

The three-year-old was urged on by Hill over the final 400 metres and eventually scored by 22 metres rating a very smart 1:55.7. Splash Of Paynt ($9) finished second, two metres in front of Machete Roulette ($8.50).

The winner was purchased as a yearling by Gawler-based Aaron Bain Racing in partnership with Summit Bloodstock headed by Jamie Durnberger-Smith, then shares offered to stable clients.

One of the groups to take up the offer was the Class of 23 syndicate formed by Chris Dean, who also had another of their runners Beach Diamond run in the Group 1 NSW Oaks at Menangle 50 minutes earlier, but an extreme barrier draw proved too much to overcome, and she finished a game seventh.

Hill, who had driven Captain Perfect when he was in work with Aaron Bain Racing as a two-year-old, said the colt had improved dramatically from the early days.

“He was a bit lazy and not really sure of what he was supposed to do,” Hill said.

“He has developed into a magnificent horse and tonight responded when I asked him to do a bit more.

“Left alone, he can switch off, that is why I started to roar at him coming off the back, so he realised the race wasn’t over, even though he was so far in front.”

Hill’s sister Danielle, a past dual winner of the Jim Hurley Medal, was the leading driver on Saturday with four winners.

She was successful the opening race, the Sundons Courage @ Truscott Lodge Trotters Handicap (2645m), on former star Doff Your Cap for the state’s leading trainer Ryan Hryhorec, from Two Wells.

Coming off a 20-metre handicap, Doff Your Cap ($3.20) appreciated a strong tempo to sprint strongly and race to a 16-1/2 metre win from Kyvalley Heist ($5.50) with Phoebe Onyx ($12), a stablemate of the winner, eight metres away third.

“He ran well last week, and the extra trip tonight was perfect,” Hill said.

“It is great to be asked to drive nice horses like him.”

Hill’s second winner was on a horse she trains, Just Chai, which took out the Kevin & Kay Seymour Pace (1800m).’

It was a second win in a row for Just Chai ($7.50) which put in a tough performance to score a half head win from the fast-finishing Classic Line ($2.70) with Don Arthur ($15), 1-1/2 metres away third.

Hill brought up a treble when Beaudiene Rocknroll, trained at Globe Derby Park by Les Harding, led throughout in the Pacing For Pink In May Pace (2230m).

Coming from gate four, Hill was determined to find the front and strongly challenged Royal Watch which began quickly from gate two, and after a short battle, took the lead and controlled the race.

Beaudiene Rocknroll ($4) kept up a good tempo in front to win by 2-1/2 metres from Royal Watch ($7.50) with Kahina ($11), 6-1/2 metres away third.

Her fourth victory was again for trainer Ryan Hryhorec, on Repetitive in the Horse Queened Pace (1800m).

Sent out the $2.60 favourite, Hill went forward early on the five-year-old trying to secure a position, but none was available, so she eased back to the rear of the field.

Repetitive went around the field to take the lead on the last lap and held on to beat Pre Nup ($2.70) which made good late ground with Two In The Bin ($81) snatching third, 4-1/2 metres away.

Samantha Hill’s first winner was on Alive And Free, which she trains, in the Paceway Restaurant Open For Bookings Race Nights Pace (1800m).

Alive And Free ($3.20) sprinted strongly for 600 metres to come from midfield and score by three metres from Lochinvar Jewells ($3 fav) with Starlight Sass ($15) dead heating for third with Give Us A Wink ($7.50), 12 metres away.

“It was a thrill to get a win again with him,” Hill said.

“He has not had much luck from bad draws recently but I was a little surprised he was able to make such a sustained run tonight.

“When I asked him to improve down the back straight he cruised up to the leaders, then put them away.

“He is only a small horse but loves racing and that is why I am able to back him up weekly.”

Hill’s double came up on the in-form La Moth for Gawler trainer Peter Bain in the Ladbrokes Sam Race Multi Pace (1800m).

La Moth ($1.85 fav) sat parked early before finding the front and never being challenged to win by 7-1/2 metres from Tonkawaikon ($8.50) with Hereforagoodtime ($23), a half-metre away third.

Interestingly, it was the fifth consecutive winner for Peter Bain since his return to the training ranks giving him a 100%. Strike rate in 2025.

Lizzie Shelby and La Moth have won two each while Hilltop Crusader was his other winner.

“La Moth felt super,” Hill said.

“I haven’t driven her for a while, but she felt strong tonight and wanted to be out there.

“She was over racing a little bit early when I was outside the leader, but she really felt super and went to the line under her own steam.”

Veteran trainer Trevor Kittel, from Hillier, had a third win in a row with The Clipper which took out the Fast As The Wind USA @ Wingate Farm Trotters Handicap (2230m).

Driven by his grandson Jason, The Clipper ($2.20 fav) wore down leader Our Spitfire ($13) to win by two metres with Buckles ($21) trotting home strongly for third, three metres away.

• Graham Fischer
• Walter Bulyga