Nothing much in racing gets past Gai Waterhouse and for that apprentice Rory Hutchings can be thankful.

Having spent more time than he would have liked out of the saddle due to a series of weight-related suspensions, Hutchings is starting to make the inroads expected of him when he landed in Sydney from New Zealand.

During a midweek meeting dominated by senior riders James McDonald and Brenton Avdulla, Hutchings benefited from Waterhouse's sharp eye when he steered Sweet Redemption to win the TAB Rewards Handicap at Canterbury on Wednesday.

It was Hutchings' first ride for Tulloch Lodge.

"Gai watched him win a race the other day and said we had to put him on at the first opportunity," stable spokesman Mark Newnham said.

"It won't be his last ride for us."

Sweet Redemption became the first leg of a Tulloch Lodge double as Dark Eyes rallied from the brink of defeat to win the Cafe Culture + Insitu Handicap, giving Avdulla his third winner.

"He was beaten five times in the straight until the Gai Waterhouse bone and muscle kicked in," Avdulla said.

Avdulla started his winning run with In The Vanguard who has firmed from a triple-figure Golden Slipper quote after making a winning debut in the Schweppes Plate.

A $101 Golden Slipper chance going into the race, In The Vanguard is now at $26 after she led throughout to beat the well-supported Earth.

Trainer John Sargent will give the filly her chance to make it to the Golden Slipper after tipping her strongly to start her career on the right note.

In The Vanguard's victory denied Chris Waller his first two-year-old winner of the season after Earth was given every chance.

But as usual Waller didn't leave the midweek meeting empty-handed, winning with Hembrook and Springbok Flyer.

Springbok Flyer made all the running in the longest race of the day, giving nothing else a chance in the TAB.com.au Handicap.

The win came after Springbok Flyer was beaten in a controversial finish at Warwick Farm last month when Glyn Schofield was suspended for his ride.

Stewards found Schofield guilty of failing to ride the stayer right out to the finish and suspended him for five weeks.

The ban has since been reduced to three weeks on appeal.

McDonald, who matched Avdulla for riding honours with a treble, took no chances on Springbok Flyer, keeping the import going to win by three lengths at the end of 2700m.

Stewards opened an inquiry into the run of the third-placed Mr Steal, an easing $3.20 to $4.20 favourite.