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Patrick Moloney was thankful to trainer Donna Logan for repeating the same feat on Saturday – help get the monkey off his back.
At a shorter one-month stint last year, the Victorian jockey won his first race on Logan's Diamond Ring at his fourth ride, before going on to ride three more winners.
Back for a one-year licence this season, Moloney had to, however, go through a longer winless run this time – 30 rides – until he finally snapped it with the Kiwi handler again the providential supplier.
It was Qiji Acheeva ($35) who gave Moloney that sensation of déjà vu in the $75,000 Goodman 2014 Stakes, a Novice race over 1100m, even if by coincidence, Diamond Ring was also entered in the same race.
As it turned out, the two stablemates assumed the command of the race when they matched motors at the head of affairs, but at the point of the turn, Moloney was certainly glad he was sitting on the right Logan. Qiji Acheeva quickly gained the ascendancy while a weary-legged Diamond Ring (Simon Kok Wei Hoong) retired from the race to finish among the also-rans.
A three-year-old by Anacheeva, Qiji Acheeva kept finding to go and salute by one length from the fast-closing Brutus (Hakim Kamaruddin) with Moongate Star (Marc Lerner) third another three-quarter length away. The winning time was 1min 6.19secs for the 1100m on the Polytrack.
"Donna gave me my first winner at my first visit and she's again given me my first winner at my first contract," said Moloney.
"I've had so many seconds (six). I told Roddy (Michael Rodd) I was wondering when that first winner would come after Ocean Crossing hit the front and ran out of puff (to run second to The Wild Bunch).
"Roddy just told me I was riding good and to just be patient."
Moloney was full of praise for his 2020 ice-breaker even if he had to stay on his guards with the highly-strung individual while milling around behind the barriers.
"This horse hasn't trialled coming into his first-up race. I didn't get a chance to gallop him and just sat on him for the first time today," he said.
"I learned my lesson as he can be quite a hothead. He does have ability, though, and I think we're just scratching the surface with him."
Logan was bringing up a training double for the day, having earlier saddled Makkem Lad to a hardy comeback win (see earlier report), with both winners sporting the purple silks of Eden Park Racing Stable.
"I'm thrilled to bits as this horse has been a work in progress," said the Kiwi conditioner.
"He's a big tough horse and John Pepe (Singapore Turf Club starter) has done a great job with him. We'll take it race by race with him as I know he has ability.
"The Qiji Stable (who won with Qiji Diamond on Friday night) had a good week, as has Eden Park."
With two wins and two thirds already showing on his record from five runs, Qiji Acheeva has already made more than $100,000 in prizemoney for the Eden Park & Logan Racing Stable.
