MOTT KEEPS TOFF'S MIND ON THE JOB

Jockey Jamie Mott had to use all his horsemanship skills to deal with a riderless horse when winning on Savatoff at Bendigo on Saturday. 

Mid-race Mott had Savatoff travelling comfortably outside the leader before Fred Kersley was dislodged when Zente Dancer clipped heels, and that horse continued on riderless.

Savatoff kicked clear at the top of the straight of the 1600m event, but always had the riderless horse for company, and Mott needed to keep his mount going while also trying to keep himself in clear running. 

"It got hairy a couple of times as the loose horse laid in, but my bloke was able to keep his momentum up and he did a good job to keep his focus with all that going on," Mott said post race.

Trainer Danny O'Brien has earmarked the 1800m three-year-old listed event on Melbourne Cup Day as the next start for the son of Savabeel.

Pic by Racing Photos