In just his second drive back from a two-week break following a race fall at Newcastle, Elder guided Liukin to victory for his sister, Melanie Elder. He went close to a win in the first race on Alta Surreal, for his father Darren, and could have driven the victor, Jumbo Asakei.

Elder, 19, is the regular driver of the Greg Brown-trained Jumbo Asakei, which won by a half-neck with Ashley Hart in the gig.

“I usually drive him but I was trying to get my clearance on Friday and if I didn’t get it, it would have stuffed around Browny, so I said I’ll just drive my own this week,” Elder said.

He needed the clearance because of bruising and muscle damage from the fall, which was the seventh of his short career and third in the past three months.

“It’s always been a horse error, so I’ve been unlucky,” he said.

He said he was “a bit sore” after Saturday night’s meeting but it was “nothing that will stop me driving”.

The win was his 49^th of the season as he chases a second consecutive Newcastle drivers’ premiership.

His next focus is Saturday night’s group 2 Bulli Cup at Menangle Park with Shannonsablast.

Also on Saturday night, Hart, Josh Gallagher and Will Rixon drove winning doubles.

The Sam Dimarco-trained Shadow Runner was one of Gallagher’s drives and an impressive winner after being out of position at the start.