MELBOURNE jockey James Winks scored a dream result by snaring his first group 1 win aboard Absolut Glam in the $500,000 Tattersall's Winter Stakes (1400m) at Eagle Farm yesterday.
The 24-year-old rider, with a history steeped in racing tradition, turned in a "Bo Derek" ride on the Danny O'Brien-trained three-year-old filly.
"I'm absolutely ecstatic, this is unbelievable," Winks said after the filly's emphatic 1¼-length win.
"I've dreamt about winning my first group 1 since I was a kid hanging around my grandfather's stable at Flemington.
"Its been a long time waiting and to do it for Danny, who has been a great supporter of mine, is just sensational. Since coming back from Singapore I've just kept hanging around, turning up, working hard and have had a bit of luck."
Winks's breakthrough at the elite level was paralleled earlier in the Brisbane carnival when fellow Melbourne rider Sebastian Murphy won aboard Mr Baritone in the $1 million Stradbroke.
Absolut Glam started a well-tried $4.40 favourite and sprinted from midfield to defeat the unlucky Fritz's Princess ($6.50), with the Paul-Messara trained Alverta ($11) a neck away third.
For 38-year-old Flemington-based O'Brien, Absolut Glam's success marked back-to-back feature race wins following Ballack's protest victory in the $200,000 Tattersall's Cup (2400m).
O'Brien, widely considered one of the nation's rising stars, appreciated Winks's success.
"He's a very good young rider and you're going to see a lot more of him," O'Brien said of Winks, who was fined $400 for waving his whip before the winning post.
O'Brien selected Absolut Glam (by Snowland) at the Magic Million yearling sales, securing her for $150,000.
"She was just a beautiful type, hence the name," O'Brien said.
"Her run in the Stradbroke (4th) was outstanding. If she had drawn barrier five like she did today instead of 20, she probably would have won both these races. This race [Winter Stakes] is a real credit to Queensland Racing having a group 1 race for fillies and mares at this time of the year. It suits perfectly."
The Winter Stakes has been upgraded to a group 1 for the past two years.
O'Brien has enjoyed another highly successful season, including Master O'Reilly winning the Caulfield Cup. Absolut Glam will head for a well-earned spell, with O'Brien suggesting she'll return for group 1 assignments in the Myer Classic and Emirates Stakes towards the end of the Melbourne spring carnival.
Newcastle trainer Kris Lees, who saddled up three horses in the Winter Stakes, was pleased with the effort of runner-up Fritz's Princess.
"There's no doubt she was a bit unlucky but she's done a good job yet again," Lees said.