Spriggs was back in the winner's stall at Newcastle when he scored on a galloper he described as "definitely above average" when he won on Palace Coup.

But for the rider who has won races throughout Australia and Asia there was special reason for joy on Saturday - and that came down the road in Sydney at Rosehill.

Spriggs watched with pride as his teenage son, Blake, once again took Sydney racing by storm by winning the feature event of the day, the group 3 Run To The Rose.

A few weeks ago Blake completed his own piece of history when he won five races on a Saturday city program as a three-kilogram claiming apprentice.

This time the 18-year-old scored his biggest win in his fledgling career when he led all the way on the $2.60 favourite Squamosa in the 1300-metre feature event.

"Blake rode as good a race as you would like to see," his father said. "He sat and sat on his horse and stacked them up then kicked him away at the right time.

"He is taking on a big job being apprenticed to Gai Waterhouse, but he is showing that he deserves his chance in Sydney. I can see the improvement in him each time he rides and when we talk.

"I do not know who got the bigger thrill out of that - myself, my wife [Chick] or young Blake.

"I have no doubt he will make his mark in Sydney."

Blake said yesterday he had plenty of pressure to deal with not only because he was riding a favourite in the main race in Sydney on a Saturday, but because of his racing heritage.

"I feel pressure because I am the son of Dale, a successful jockey," Blake said.

"Yesterday I was given the chance by the boss [Gai Waterhouse]. She does not usually put kids on in big races, so the pressure was there, but once I had the horse out and running things fell into place."

The terrific winning ride has led Blake to the chance of more big-time success as Waterhouse will use him in the group 3 Up And Coming Stakes at Warwick Farm.

Spriggs will ride the highly touted Mutamayez in the big three-year-old race.

He will also ride former American sprinter Cannonball in the Show County Stakes and may ride New Day Rising as well.

After taking in the victory of his son on the TV monitor in the jockey's room at Broadmeadow Dale was also full of enthusiasm for the winner he rode.

Palace Coup was a $6 chance in the Benchmark 65 handicap over 900m and won convincingly.

He was having his 12th start and made it four wins and three placings when the five-year-old blew his rivals away in winning the sprint by 3? lengths.