WHETHER it is across the border or in his home town, Adelaide, Mark Kavanagh continues to build on his success in spring when he took out the Melbourne Cup with Shocking.
Kavanagh is within striking distance of Peter Moody on the Victorian trainers' premiership and yesterday had four winners at Morphettville.
Like many of his gallopers in recent times, he too has raced clear to open up a 5 1/2-win margin on the local table.
Kavanagh had a youngster and a veteran as his allies in yesterday's successes at SA racing's headquarters.
Apprentice Billy Egan, who has been drafted into the stable's services, rode three of the four winners - Rock The Moment, Galileo's Dream and Navmann.
David Tootell, now riding in his fifth decade after starting in the 1970s, was aboard the new stable acquisition, Tuscan View, to provide Kavanagh the second leg of the quadrella.
For Egan, 19, it was his first metropolitan treble and gave Kavanagh his second SA quartet of winners within two months.
'Kav' recorded the same feat on November 14 when Catapulted, French Secret, Believe 'N' Succeed and Luce Del Mare scored.
Egan was apprenticed to his uncle Gerald (responsible for putting the early polish on Nicholas Hall) at Mansfield in country Victoria before moving to Kavanagh on a three-month loan at Flemington.
"I've been there a month now and I'd like to stay on and finish my apprenticeship there," he said after bringing up the third leg of his treble on Navmann.
Egan really had to work hard on Navmann in the sprinter's head victory over deadheaters Allstar and Count Cheval.
Sam Kavanagh, stable foreman for his father at Morphettville, said that if the situation arose Egan would be used regularly in Adelaide.
"We had good chances today and were able to utilise his three-kilogram claim," he said.
The young rider didn't have time to celebrate his first treble in town as he was quickly whisked to the airport for a riding engagement at last night's Moonee Valley meeting in Melbourne.
Tuscan View had previously been trained by Greg Lesnikowski at Strathalbyn and was having his first start in seven weeks.
"There was probably a bit of pressure on us for him to perform," Kavanagh said.
The four-year-old will now head to the Birthday Cup (1800m) on January 30.
Galileo's Dream is being aimed at the $70,000 Port Adelaide Cup (2250m) on February 13.
