Horsham trainer Greg Baker’s gelding Spunlago ended a frustrating run with a dominant win at Mildura on Monday.
Since breaking his maiden last December, the Hard Spun gelding hadn’t raced below benchmark 64 grade.
On Monday, however, he dropped to 0-58 class and proved far too good.
Placed just behind the leaders by jockey Roger Booth, Spunlago enjoyed a nice run but still raced a tad ungenerously, taking a while to settle.
When produced at the top of the straight however, Spunlago let down quickly and put the race beyond doubt.
The four-year-old dashed away to win by 2½ lengths, taking his record to nine starts for two wins and $26,840 in earnings.
Duke dazzles
Another Horsham trainer to taste success at Mildura was Paul Preusker with Diamond Duke in heat eight of the Betfair Murray Mallee Stayers Series over 2000 metres.
With regular rider Holly McKechnie in the saddle, Diamond Duke stalked race leader Dandy Gent, not giving him an inch.
The duel continued well into the straight before  the De Beers gelding gained the ascendancy and got the bob in, on the post.
Diamond Duke now has three wins from 15 starts for prizemoney of $40,565.
If he can hold Monday’s form he can win again in the not-too-distant future.
Patch gets the cash
Terry and Karina O’Sullivan brought their superb form into the new racing season courtesy of Patch Adams at Horsham on Sunday.
Lining up in the three-year-old maiden plate over 1100 metres, the Dane Shadow colt benefited from a patient ride by Adelaide jockey Paul Gatt.
After settling back in the field off a strong tempo, Patch Adams loomed into the race  and let down strongly despite being forced wide on the turn.
Now that the three-year-old has broken his duck (at start number four), I think he has a bright future ahead.
Ups and downs
It was a big few days for Horsham jockey Dean Yendall, who went from near tragedy at Moonee Valley last Saturday to winners on Sunday and Monday.
Yendall was aboard The Big Dance at Moonee Valley when the filly crashed through the running rail after her race.
The situation looked serious but both Yendall and The Big Dance escaped without serious injury.
The following day Yendall was on his home track when he booted home Our Bottino and the smart So Does He for Matthew Williams and Shawn Mathrick respectively.
On Monday Yendall scored on Ayers Rock over 2000 metres at Mildura, again for the in form Mathrick stable.