Kiwi expat Riodini from the Waterhouse/Bott stable broke a lengthy drought posting his first win in over 1000 days with a dominant success in the 2022 The Gong results at Kembla Grange on Saturday.

Riodini was excellent winning The Gong 2022 for the punters. Photo: Steve Hart.

It had been exactly 1077 days since the now six-year-old son of Proisir last celebrated a turf triumph.

He was backed to his best at the Grange taking out the seven-figure $1 million The Gong (1600m) over the mile.

Last seen running three lengths back eighth behind Private Eye in the $3 million Nature Strip Stakes (1300m) three weeks ago as a triple-figure outside, Riodini was well backed third-up and fit getting out over further in The Gong.

He jumped the $6.50 favourite in markets at Ladbrokes.com.au and didn’t disappoint, jockey Tim Clark guiding the top elect to a half-length win for the punters.

Riodini was running three-wide with no cover throughout before getting cracking on the home straight to hit the lead and surge clear over the final furlong.

“A real target race third-up at a mile. He got in really well at the weights,” Clark said.

“He’d had a really good lead-up, he enjoyed his two runs.

“He toughed it out really good in the end.

“Inside the last hundred, he really responded when he felt her (Hope In Your Heart) coming.

“It’s a great result for the horse. He’s been a long time out of the winners’ stall so it’s good to see him back in form and getting a win because he’s been very honest.”

Kerry Parker’s local runner Hope In Your Heart produced another stellar effort backing up from her $10 million Golden Eagle fourth to finish runner-up at her home track to cap off a brilliant spring for the Dundeel mare.

The Gong trifecta was completed by the Peter & Paul Snowden-trained Old Flame ($7) who ran a length back third.

Old Flame finished just ahead of Team Hawkes’ emergency runner, Wild Planet ($31), who was outstanding having been ridden aggressively to lead the field before hanging on for a close fourth.

It was another top training performance by Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott who had nursed Riodini along to have him peaking for his grand final over a mile in the fourth edition of the region’s richest race.

“What a training feat by Gai and Adrian, they’ve had this race in mind,” part-owner Neil Payne told Sky Thoroughbred Central after the race.

“They’ve had him spot on for today.

“A great ride by Tim. Gai told him to just take a sit behind and then pull out then six or seven deep in the track so it was by design.

“Gai and Adrian have trained this horse a treat. Teffific for the owners to win a million-dollar race, we’re just over the moon.”

Riodini also set a new track record in The Gong saluting in a time of 1 minute and 33.57 seconds.

Payne confirmed plans to target the new-look Group 2 $2 million The Ingham Stakes (1600m) – formerly the Villiers Stakes – run over the Randwick mile on December 10.

“The Ingham, my word, he’ll be hard to beat in that,” he said.

“He’s run third in a Group 1 over a mile (2020 Epsom Handicap). He loves the Randwick mile.

“It’s all up from here.

“Another $2 million will be handy again!”

Updated 2022 The Ingham betting at Ladbrokes.com.au have Riodini at $11 with Hope In Your Heart the narrow $8 all-in favourite.

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2022 The Gong Results & Finishing Order

Table Credit: Racing Australia.