Kilmore trainer Lesia Masnyj’s Wardy Boy ($5) was rewarded for his consistency on the Sportsbet-Ballarat synthetic last Thursday.
The Reward For Effort gelding, who started striking form this prep with a close-up third at $151 on the Pakenham synthetic in June, was an impressive winner of the $31,500 Madica Civil Maiden Plate over 1500 metres.
Giving Dean Yendall the first leg of a riding double, the gelding defeated Politicalinfluence ($7) by three-quarters of a length with the Kilmore-trained Storm’s Colours ($9) a further 1¼ lengths away third.
Coming off a six-day back-up from a second placing at Swan Hill, the gelding was given a few days off after Thursday’s win.
“He’s such a legend — he really tries hard and handles the synthetic,” Masnyj said.
Masnyj purchased the gelding last year from stable clients of Luke Oliver, who was then based at Romsey.
Wardy Boy had four minor placings prior to last Thursday’s victory, which came at his 24th start.
At Wodonga on Monday, Wardy Boy’s stablemate Mr Drew ($31) was just pipped in a benchmark 58.
Drawn the outside barrier (12), the seven-year-old Reward For Effort gelding had to cover ground to settle outside the leader, You’re So Natural ($3.80 favourite).
He was entitled to drop off in the straight but fought on like a bulldog under Georgina Cartwright to run the Maher/Eustace-trained Soleil De Lune to a short half-head.
Mr Drew was black-booked in this column last start, and I suggest you keep following.  
George lauds ‘terrific’ Tayla
Four-kilo claiming apprentice Tayla Childs rode her third winner at Geelong last Friday, defeating her brother Jordan by a half-head.
Tayla was aboard the George Osborne-trained Reine Happy ($8), who completed back-to-back wins in the $31,500 Viatek BM70 Handicap over 1330 metres.
The Good Journey gelding, who tunred nine the following day, was rated perfectly and hung on to defeat Billy Mav ($19).
In-form Kyneton trainer Osborne was full of praise for Tayla’s ride.
“She did a terrific job. She won the race in the first furlong and a half (300m). 
“We spoke about the fact that there was limited speed in the race and we didn’t want to spend our pennies early.
“We knew he’d pick up, so we wanted to cruise into the leading spot, and then just let him bolt from the 800 (metres).
“He’s just an amazing horse. He’s been with me for a long time. I bought him as a yearling and he took me a while to work out.”
Osborne bought Reine Happy for $8000 at the 2013 Magic Millions Adelaide yearling sale.
The ultra-consistent Reine Happy has now won 13 races with 15 minor placings from his 58 starts, earning $231,790.
Follow these … 
• Seeress: The George Osborne-trained Nostradamus filly, black-booked in this column last start, was a good thing beaten at The Valley last Saturday. Backed from $13-$8, the filly raced behind the speed from the inside barrier and sprouted wings once she saw daylight 100 metres out. Records show the filly ran fifth but she finished only a half-length from the winner, Miss Divine Em. She’ll win a fillies’ race very soon.
• Misscino: The Helen White-trained six-year-old Smart Missile mare was luckless at Donald last Saturday. Unable to go the early pace in the 1204-metre 0-58, the mare was taken to the outside on the tight track by Zac Spain and flew home in the straight for a half-length second. She’ll get away with a “58er” soon.
• Mr Drew: See above!