ACE amateur motorcyclist Richard Defago swapped two wheels for four legs and rode Gamato to victory at Hackwood Park’s Vine and Craven point-to-point on Monday.

The 52-year-old won the Fontwell Park sponsored Novice Riders race by three lengths from 16-year-old Jack Andrews on Bluegun.

Defago said: “You don’t travel quite as fast on a horse as you do on the tarmac – but it’s just as thrilling and I can’t wait for the next time.”

Gamato is trained by Hackwood regular Philip York, who himself scored a training and riding double to take his seasonal score to 11.

Those winners have been ridden in just a four-week period since Hackwood Park’s first meeting at the end of March. He had an easy 10-length success on Blue Benny in the JM Finn Open Maiden, who he trains for Julia Oakley.

This was followed by a hard-fought victory on Call the Doctor in the concluding Berry Bros and Rudd Maiden.

However, there was a sting in the tail for York as the stewards fined him £200 for excessive whip use.

York said: “She would not have won if I hadn’t smacked her, she wasn’t marked in any way.”

Also fined £60 was Robbie Henderson, who failed to follow weighing-in protocol after riding Sutton Storm into second place behind Blue Benny.

The horse was disqualified and Reste Jeune, who had finished a distant third, claimed the second-prize money of £75.

Zac Baker, brother of top flat race jockey George, rode Arthurian Legend to victory in the Caviste Hackwood Park Club race.

His only rival in the race, Owner Occupier, unseated his rider Sarah Kelk five fences from home.

The Mixed Open also had a disappointing field of only two runners. It was 13-year-old Noakarad de Verzee, ridden by David Maxwell, who made all the running to beat recent Hackwood and Larkhill winner Payekashe.

Emily Brooks had the biggest smile of the day after landing the Harwoods of Basingstoke PPORA Club race on her own Darby’s Turn.

She said: “That was my third winner and he’s trained by my mum, who is 62 today.”

Vine and Craven chairman Graham Stewart was delighted with the day and the final meeting this year at Hackwood.

Stewart said: “We estimate the crowd to be in excess of 4,000, which is a brilliant turnout, and there has been good racing on perfect going.”