Creighton started his winning run at Penshurst on Boxing Day when he booted home  four winners before being outed by stewards for nine meetings. His run continued at Penola last Thursday riding a treble.

The 31-year-old said he was grateful for the support he had received from Warrnambool trainers, in particular Aaron Purcell who trains Upbeat.

“Aaron has been a great supporter  since I moved here three months ago,” Creighton said. “It’s great to win on Upbeat for his stable. I ride a lot of trackwork for the Purcell stable so it’s rewarding that they give me rides and I can win races for them. The race never went to plan but Upbeat was just too tough in the end. I thought Vintage Lad may have beaten us on the line but Upbeat just stuck his head out.”

Creighton said the former Anthony Cummings-trained Upbeat enjoyed a bit of give in the racing surface.

“He really loved the surface. It allowed him to get his toe into the ground,” he said. “He was a bit disappointing in the Woodford Cup at his last run but the track was just a bit hard,” the Warrnambool-based jockey said. “I reckon the 1700 metres is his ideal distance. He’s a very honest type of galloper.”

Purcell targetted Upbeat at the Port Fairy, Woodford and Koroit cups in 2013 but he filled minor placings before running third in the 2014 Port Fairy Cup and was unplaced in the Woodford Cup in December last year.

“We purchased him out of the sales ring about 18 months ago with this series  of country cup races in mind,” Purcell said. “He’s got a good record in them now. He’s won one and got four minor placings and one unplaced run.

“He’s an honest type of horse who came to us as he had lost interest in racing. 

“He’s been a great investment for his owners. They have had a lot of fun with him. “

Upbeat picked up $24,000 in prizemoney with his win to take his earnings to more than $320,000.