Zoot Suit Returns A Winner

Zoot Suit Riot wasted no time getting back into the winner's circle this preperation with his first-up victory in the Elmore Events Centre 0 - 58 Handicap at Bendigo today over 1100m.

The Adam O'Neill trained five-year-old showed his trademark finish to round the turn as the widest runner before using the whole of the long Bendigo straight to get his nose in front in a photo finish.

Zoot Suit Riot will always be a significant horse for Todd Blum Bloodstock as the first winner for the operation but Zoot Suit Riot has been the gift that just keeps giving.

"He has been an excellent horse for us so far and it certainly looks like he has a bit more to give," said Todd Blum.

"Its also pleasing to see him winning again for the other owners including Adam O'Neill and partner Anna Sutton as well as Rex Colless and Mark Greenhalgh, who got involved through TBB."

Adam O'Neill was also pleased with the win.

"I was really happy with how Zoot Suit was going into the race as we hadn't galloped him since his trial at Tatura which is really mentally challenging for me to do with a horse but it's a tactic that hasn't failed him in the past," said O'Neill.

"We knew at some stage that he was going to look like he was going to be in the finish but he did very well to get his nose in front when it mattered.

"John gave him a great ride and being a Bendigo based jockey for close to 30 years we knew he would know how to time it in the straight.

Zoot Suit Riot now takes his career record to four wins, five seconds and three third placings from 24 starts. It was his third start at the 1100m and has now won twice and finished second at the distance.