But the twist to the happy family moment was that John Scorse, a former jockey, was the man interviewing his son after he returned to the mounting yard after winning on Sir Ottavio.

"I've been waiting for this interview for quite a long time," John Scorse beamed on Sky Racing.

"I didn't think it was coming this quick, but nonetheless Sir Ottavio holds them off and Patty gets his second winner. Come over here young man."

Patrick Scorse gave up his ambition to represent Australia in equestrian at the end of last year to instead follow in his dad's footsteps.

He has joined the Matthew Dale stable and has been slowly ramping up his riding before breaking through for a TAB winner.

It was a moment the Scorse family had been waiting for since December, Patrick joking he didn't know if he would call John 'dad' during an interview.

But he kept his nerve after guiding Sir Ottavio to a tight win ahead of Arctic Grey and Cross of Gold.

"We made our intentions clear to lead before the first corner, we led before the first corner and then backed him off for a bit of a rest," Patrick said.

"It's a long way ... that's my first 2100 metres but it was the worth the distance."

John intervened: "Mate, it's for your first TAB winner. Well done, I couldn't be any prouder."

Then back to Patrick: "Thanks John."

Meanwhile, with the Warrnambool racing carnival on the horizon, the newly elected chair of Racing Australia has blasted South Australian racing minister Leon Bignell for his comments that jumps racing was "cruel and barbaric".

She also accused him of allowing personal prejudices to "contaminate" his view of the sport.

Adelaide-based QC Frances Nelson, says Bignell's views – expressed after a horse died at the Oakbank carnival on Easter Saturday – betrayed a lack of understanding of how racing works and the vital role the Oakbank carnival played in the local economy.

Bignell's call for the sport to be abolished was completely at odds with the result of a parliamentary select committee he had instituted, she said.

"He personally pushed for a select committee. He appointed the people on it, they spent 12 months collecting evidence that it should not be banned. I think our racing minister is like a cricketer who is LBW and won't accept the third umpire's decision."

Warrnambool's May carnival showcases the Grand Annual Steeplechase and the Galleywood Hurdle and makes a vital contribution to the economy of south-western Victoria by attracting big crowds.