Carleen Hefel riding with confidence 

A relaxed Carleen Hefel headed to Moonee Valley knowing she had the Melbourne Apprentices' Premiership in the bag before proceeding to land a double. 

Back-to-back wins came on Flash Flood in the Luna Hand Care Handicap (2040m) and an easy 5-¾ length victory aboard Claidheamh Mor in the Dominant Brand Protection Handicap (2500m). 

Hefel said she felt pressure when in a battle with Celine Gaudray for premiership honours but had declared victory following Wednesday's Sandown meeting which saw her seven wins clear of her rival. 

Gaudray headed to Adelaide on Saturday in search of a Stakes win, but her mount Exploring was a late scratching from the Listed Lightning Stakes (1050m) at Morphettville. 

"There's a bit of pressure, especially when it's close, but once I knew I had it, I could go out and enjoy my riding, like today," Hefel said. 

Hefel did not start the season looking at the premiership, but after looking at the tally and noticing where she was placed, decided to work towards achieving an important milestone. 

With confidence, the numbers of winners have grown and Hefel is now a cog in the teams of Peter Moody and the Ciaron Maher & David Eustace stable. 

"I feel a bit more switched-on during races now," Hefel said. 

"I see a lot more things than I used to. I feel like I'm riding a race better and I'm getting stronger in the saddle as well. 

"Four years on, I finally think I'm starting to get it altogether." 

The double on Saturday moved Hefel to 38 winners for the season and into fourth place on the overall Melbourne Jockeys' Premiership, separating Craig Williams (40) and Damien Oliver  (37) on the list. 

The next goal for Hefel is to outride her 1.5kg claim by the time her apprenticeship ends early next year. 

"I've got around 20 winners to go and hopefully I can get those done before it ends," Hefel said. 

"That's my next goal. I've ticked off a Group winner, a premiership, and that (outride my claim) is definitely one of my goals."  

Stakes company next for Tiz Enuff 

The Anthony and Sam Freedman stable will head back to Stakes company with Opus after her first-up win in the Opus Group Handicap (1000m). 

The Group 3 Quezette Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield on August 19 is next on the agenda for the filly after she led throughout in scoring a 3-¾ length win. 

Flemington stable foreman Steve Adams said Tiz Enuff was brought into work early this campaign to get a run into her before the better performed fillies reappear for their spring campaigns. 

Tiz Enuff was successful at Sale on debut before the Freedman stable decided on a trip to Adelaide for the Listed Cinderella Stakes (1050m) at Morphettville. 

"We tipped her out after we tried her in some Stakes grade over in Adelaide and she just didn't handle the trip over there," Adams said. 

"So, we tipped her out to get her ready for the spring. 

"She's had a couple of good solid trials. We took her away to Werribee and she needs to be pretty fit for the style of filly she is, jump and run. 

"She was right up to the mark, and it was a good win today." 

Back-to-back go father and son 

Training partners Leon and Troy Corstens were in the winner's enclosure twice in the space 35 minutes with two on-pace three-year-olds. 

He'll Rip took out the Dominant 65 Years Handicap with Magnaspin leading throught to claims the Lee Ann Suryn Handicap (2040m). 

He'll Rip was having the sixth start of his preparation and Troy Corstens said there was potentially more to come while Magnaspin was having only his fourth of the campaign. 

Corstens said Magnaspin was a different type to He'll Rip and was still 12 months away from reaching his full potential. 

"This time next year I think he will be a really good horse," Corstens said. 

"And this will be a really nice surprise for Nathan Bennett as he's on the plane at the moment and he won't know he's had a winner yet. 

"When Nathan gets home, we'll sit down and have a really good talk and see where we head." 

Corstens said it was a nice to get a double in town as he was unable to remember his last one. 

Shalaman too speedy 

Trainer Gavin Bedggood  had a simple instruction for Daniel Stackhouse as he legged the jockey aboard Shalaman in the Dominant Plant Powered Handicap (1200m). 

"Handlebars down and if it doesn't work out, there's no blame on you," Bedggood said. 

"It was great that it came off. New owners, new horse and he's picked up his purchase price and everything is a bonus from now on. 

"If he had drawn a barrier today, I would have come here with a lot of confidence. 

"When he drew where he did, I wasn't that confident, but I didn't think I could get the horse in much better order." 

Bedggood said he plans to return to Moonee Valley on August 12 and again on August 26 with Shalaman, saying the track suits the sprinter. 

Quote of the day 

"In the words of John Sadler, you don't tell Picaso how to paint and I didn't tell Blake what to do" - co-trainer Troy Corstens after Blake Shinn guided He'll Rip to victory in the Dominant 65 years Handicap.