Young trainer David Jolly celebrated his first Group 1 success by winning the $300,000 Honda Goodwood Handicap (1200m) at Morphettville today.

Brian Park, who not only rode his first Group winner last weekend but notched a Group double, took the next step up by winning on Zip Zip Aray and claiming his third Group win in just eight days.

Jolly, who has held his licence since the mid nineties, is the son of top local trainer Peter and brother to former top rider, now trainer Richard. All three train at Morphettville from the well-known Forextra Lodge stables.

While the trainer cannot believe he has won a feature race on his home turf, it comes as no surprise the horse did.

"From the first day I galloped him, I knew he would make a very good horse," Jolly said.

"He just has so much ability – he does things too easily. He is still very green and I think he can continue to improve. I told the owners a couple of months ago I was going to aim him at some of the good sprints over the carnival, but to actually pull off the Goodwood is just amazing."

Zip Zip Aray, bred and raced by local breeders Wayne and Jenny Francis and their brother-in-law Ray Borda, snuck into the Goodwood field after a fast-finishing third behind Troubles and The Big Chill in the Group 2 Yallambee Stakes (1200m) at the same track last weekend.

The first three placegetters from that race gain exemption from the Goodwood ballot. But not only was he luckless in the Yallambee, he dropped 5.5kg on the run for today’s race.

After settling well back, Park brought him to the centre of the track at the top of the straight. He quickly reeled in early leader Libidinious, who was gallant in defeat to lead for most of the way and hang on for second, while another three-year-old, The Big Chill, rattled home from the tail to grab third.

"He was a bit stiff in the Yallambee and may have won had he had a clearer run, but by the same token he was lucky to just grab third and get into the Goodwood field," Jolly said.

"At the top of the straight today I could see him getting to the outside and, once he balanced up, I just knew he was going to do it. He has an amazing turn of foot and he got the leader very quickly but, I still turned to my partner Sandy (Polkinghorne) and said I don’t believe this is happening."

Jolly said the gelding would be spelled and aimed at the spring. He will continue to train him as a sprinter, but believes he may be even better suited at 1400m.

"He’ll go the paddock now and we’ll have a look at the spring," Jolly said.

"I think races like the Vic Health Cup (1400m) would suit him. He’s by Bellotto so it’s best to keep him fairly fresh and run him in high-pressure races with the speed right on."