Episodic bounces back to form, Jessica Tzaferis and Rochelle Milnes notch doubles at Murray Bridge

Gun mare Episodic appreciated a big drop in grade to regain winning form at Murray Bridge on Saturday.

Episodic and Todd Pannell combined for another win on Saturday. Picture: Makoto Kaneko

After two unplaced finishes at stakes level, sharp mare Episodic found herself back in the winner’s stall on Saturday with an impressive win at Murray Bridge.

Guided under a gun steer from Todd Pannell, the daughter of Tavistock held off race favourite Let’s Get Down in the closing stages to salute in a Benchmark 76 over 1200m.

It was Episodic’s first run in Benchmark grade following two unplaced runs in the Group 3 Behemoth Stakes and Listed Christmas Handicap, either side of a four and a half month spell.

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Trainer Niki O’Shea was thrilled to have his gun mare back in form, notching the fifth race win of her 18-start career.

“(We’re) delighted with that, it’s a great effort by the team to get her back going,” O’Shea, who trains in partnership with Will Clarken, said.

“She had a big prep last prep, sometimes those mares don’t turn up after a spell, it’s great to get her back going.

“She’s a quality mare, a real stable favourite, (she’s) beautiful so we’re delighted to get her to win again.”

Episodic is back in business 🙌@Clarken_Racingpic.twitter.com/X29G1EIbh0

— Racing.com (@Racing) January 18, 2025

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O’Shea was full of praise for Pannell’s ride, the hoop settled in the box seat, peeling off the rail at the 400m before winding up strongly.

The stable has another stakes tilt on the radar for the Pinecliff Racing-owned Episodic, as they chase black-type status.

“She’s tough as nails and just tries her heart out every time, Todd rode her lovely again today, probably against her usual pattern, she usually gets right back and goes down the outside but he was clever enough to use his position and he rode her beautifully,” he said.

“That’s the aim (black type), she’s racing for good clients and she’s got good pedigree, she deserves some black type – she’s been really solid.”

Victorian border hopper Flying Mikki produced the most eye catching win of the day for trainer David Noonan.

Ridden by Jessica Tzaferis, the five-year-old gelding sprouted wings to fly home, nabbing Struck By on the line in a Benchmark 78 (1400m).

Flying Mikki comes from the clouds 😱

How has the David Noonan trained galloper won?!@jessikate93pic.twitter.com/StCelby3rE

— Racing.com (@Racing) January 18, 2025

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It was the first winner of a riding double for Tzaferis, who also saluted aboard Bolted In for trainer Matthew Seyers later in the card.

Blanc Visage was the only runner to salute at double-figure odds on Saturday’s nine-race program, the Peter and Belinda Blanch-trained mare broke her maiden at odds of $31 (Sportsbet) in an upset for punters.

Favourite backers were quickly back in the green however, with talented mare Gotta Go Guru ($2.15), trained by Andrew Gluyas, producing a gutsy effort to hold The Western Front at bay in race four.

Talented hoop Rochelle Milnes also scored a riding double, winning aboard Hallstatt for Gordon Richards and Damien Moyle in race five, before steering the Jeff Searle-trained Chipson to a commanding win in the final race.

The brace saw Milnes jump back into the lead of the Adelaide jockeys’ premiership with 24 wins ahead of Lachlan Neindorf (22), it was a day of “almosts” for Neindorf, who finished the day with an incredible five second-placed finishes.

Originally published as Episodic bounces back to form, Jessica Tzaferis and Rochelle Milnes notch doubles at Murray Bridge