BRISBANE - A gruelling week of strength training paid dividends for Stathi Katsidis when the top Brisbane jockey savoured the biggest day of his career at Eagle Farm on Saturday.
Katsidis was forced to take a course of anti-inflammatory drugs to help him ride through the pain barrierand his determination was rewarded when he drove Ice Chariot to victory in the group three A$200,000 ($224,668) Tattersall's Cup (2200m).
Riding the crest of a wave, Katsidis scored his third group one victory on Nova Star in the previous race, the Winter Stakes, and the heavyweight hoop rated the successes the equal of any of his previous achievements.
"Winning the Weetwood Handicap is always special for me because it's run in my home town of Toowoomba, but this is right up there," Katsidis said.
"It's as good as any day I've had at the races."
Ice Chariot ($8) gave Katsidis back-to-back Tattersalls Cups after last year's success on Ring Of Fire when he stormed home from well back to grab pacemaker Rampant Lion ($21) to score by 1 1/4 lengths.
New Zealand mare Mirkola Lass ($10) found the line well to finish the same margin away third with race favourite Game On ($5.50) battling on to hold down fourth.
Katsidis spent the week undertaking daily strength training sessions with Gold Coast jockey Willie Pearson and said the commitment had resulted in immediate benefits.
"It goes to show you get back what you put in," Katsidis said.
"I've trained hard all week and I'm on anti-inflammatory drugs because I'm so sore and stiff."
Ice Chariot returned to the winner's circle for the first time since his Queensland Derby victory last year and the win was some consolation for Toowoomba trainer Ron Maund after his glamour filly Gold Edition finished unplaced in the Winter Stakes.
Maund said he thought Ice Chariot had been harshly treated by the handicapper and would struggle to win despite the horse finishing third in the Brisbane Cup at his previous start.
"I thought the 58kg would be too much for him but he outstayed them, simple as that," said Maund.
The 4-year-old is likely tackle to the Queen's Cup (3200m) on July 7.
