Psychic Mick sees a bright future

PSYCHIC Mick kept his unbeaten record intact with a tough victory at Morphettville Parks on Saturday.

jockey

PSYCHIC Mick kept his unbeaten record intact with a tough victory at Morphettville Parks on Saturday.

The talented youngster didn't get any favours but it didn't matter. After two impressive performances, Daniel Clarken's two-year-old carried the weight of expectation going into his third start, as well as the hopes of plenty of punters, who backed him in from $1.80 to $1.50.

Things did not go to plan early, with Psychic Mick missing the start and getting buried back on the rail in the six-horse field.

The horses spread as they turned for home, but the Shinzig gelding was reluctant to pick through the gap, letting pacesetter Beyond Infinity kick clear halfway down the straight.

But once apprentice Lauren Stojakovic found some clear running, Psychic Mick let down strongly and quickly reeled in the leader.

"That's his best win," Clarken said afterwards. "We'll have a look and see what's in Melbourne. I think he's looking for 1400m."

Having overcome a few difficulties, Stojakovic thinks Psychic Mick will benefit from the experience. "He was a bit fidgety behind the gates. I knew he was going to miss the start," she said. "He didn't want to go through the gap in the straight but really lengthened once he found room."

It kicked off a big day for the hoop, who combined with her favourite galloper, Just Sybil, to complete a double.

Trained at Strathalbyn by Brian Mueller, the super mare appreciated the drop in class and was simply too good for her rivals, beating Avionics by a 1¼ lengths, with Inablitz in third.

Just Sybil now has 10 wins from her 39 starts - eight with Stojakovic on board - collecting more than $360,000 in prizemoney.

Mueller said he was unlikely to take her to Melbourne and would continue to pick off suitable races in Adelaide.

CRANBOURNE trainer Michael Hibbs also enjoyed a landmark day, picking up his first metropolitan double with Langridge Street and the heavily backed Light Express.

He celebrated with Victorian jockey Darren Gauci, who also collected his first city brace since returning from career-threatening injuries suffered in a horrific fall almost a year ago.