Stawell trainer Paul Krelle enjoyed his first win of 2020 when Illya ($5.50) broke through in Tuesday’s 2200-metre maiden at Hamilton.
With Dean Yendall aboard at start number 10, the four-year-old gelding pushed on from a wide barrier and rolled to the lead. 
From there, the son of low-profile stallion Helene Mascot dictated the terms, giving a strong kick once balanced and really relishing the heavy track to dash away for an effortless seven-length win. 
Although the form behind him looked average, the fact that Illya proved an absolute swimmer suggests he could win again soon in the right conditions. 
The win kicked off a good day at the office for Horsham-based Yendall, who finished with three winners.
Offtap on song
Promising Horsham three-year-old Offtap made it two wins from three starts when he stepped up to 1600 metres at Echuca on Monday.
The Paul Preusker-trained son of Cheval de Troy found the box seat under Declan Bates in the Class 1 event, moving off the fence before the turn and looming on the leaders. 
On straightening, Offtap ($3.80) rounded up his rivals, working home strongly to score by a length.
Bit of a thrashing
Wimmera-based owners headed by Horsham businessman Anthony Schache are still celebrating after honest steeplechaser Bit of a Lad’s eight-length romp in the Australian Steeple at Sandown last Sunday. 
The Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained six-year-old jumped beautifully for Shane Jackson and was travelling like the winner a long way from home. 
Backed from $6 into $4.40 third favourite in a field lacking some of the class of past years, Bit of a Lad exerted his dominance late to notch one of the more comprehensive wins you’ll see in a feature steeplechase.
It was a second ’chasing major for Bit of a Lad, who won last year’s Brierly at Warrnambool.