QIN Yong had only one mount at yesterday’s “Saddle Up For Spring” meeting on his home track at Hawkesbury – and made the most of it.
The mature age apprentice, who is indentured to Hawkesbury’s leading trainer Brad Widdup, produced a flawless display to land the Benchmark 64 Handicap (1400m) on well-backed local five-year-old We Could Be Heroes.
In the process, he clinched both his first winner at the provincials since resuming his career and his 30th success in Australia.
Qin Yong rode 16 winners in his initial 2017-18 season in Australia, and a further 12 in the first half of last season before returning to his native China to finalise a visa so that he could continue riding here.
He did not resume until late July and broke back into the winning list when he scored on Scone mare Miss Leah at Parkes on August 17.
Hawkesbury co-trainers Tara and Philippe Vigouroux took advantage of Qin Yong’s 3kg provincial claim, which proved decisive on We Could Be Heroes ($4.80).
He settled the consistent five-year-old in second place behind front-runner Test Of War ($31), and chose to stay on the inside on straightening when others were just as keen to stay away from the fence.
His bold decision paid off, as We Could Be Heroes, with only 54kg, fought on gamely to hold out the late finish of Loveseat ($11), with Test Of War taking third placing.
. Qin Yong has bookings for Percussion (Garry Lunn), Jetgirl (Dean Mirfin) and Audio Bay (Alison Smith) at the Wellington TAB fixture tomorrow (Monday).