Albury-based trainer Kym Davison celebrated the biggest win of his 26-year career at Randwick last Saturday, when his good galloper Autumn Break claimed the Group 3 Carbine Stakes (1600 metres).
In a thrilling finish Autumn Break, ridden by Sam Clipperton, scored by a head from Kilman. Matias was a similar margin away in third place.
“It was a big thrill to get my first city winner and not a bad race to crack the ice with either,” said Davison.
“We were hoping originally to be in the Country Championships but this is a great consolation. Sam rode him perfectly. He popped out at exactly the right time. It was close, but he got there.
“He’s still learning what it’s all about and he’s got so much more improvement to come. He’ll have a break now before we look at Sydney and Melbourne in the spring.”
What a team!
In the following race at Randwick, the $1m Country Championships, the recently-formed father-and-daughter training partnership of Brett and Georgie Cavanaugh got off to a dream start when Chidiac (ridden by Zac Purton) was successful. 
“That’s unbelievable,” said Georgie straight after the victory. “I can hardly breathe. I’m shaking. I said all week that her class would take her a long way.”
Brett Cavanaugh was also emotional,  telling media: “I’ve got to try to hold it together a bit. It’s very special today to do it with Georgie. She had faith in the horse.”
Said winning jockey Zac Purton: “I was a country boy my whole childhood so it’s just great to team up with someone from there and win a race as important as this. She (Chidiac) travelled really well. At no stage did she give me concerns. She was straight into the bridle and was really happy and comfortable throughout.”
Clean sweep for Clement
At the Lightning Ridge meeting held the same afternoon, the feature race was the local Cup and trainer Jane Clement provided the first three placegetters. The race was won by Macleay.
Promising apprentice Jacob Stiff rode four winners on the program, three of them for Clement.
No Drama for Dale
At Rosehill on Sunday, Matthew Dale took out the 1500-metre Benchmark 78 with No Drama, who was ridden by Tim Clark.
The winner scored comfortably from the favourite Wrathful, with Monkhana a nose away in third.
Scone-based trainer Rodney Northern then claimed the following race, an 1100m  Benchmark 72, with Shropshire Lad, ridden by Reece Jones.
On the same afternoon at Muswellbrook trainer Scott Singleton led in a winning double, both ridden by Mikayla Weir. Weir shared riding honours with apprentice, Deon La Roux who also landed a double.
Coming up ...
At Wellington on Friday the main race is the $40,000 Iron Horse Handicap (2400 metres).
Australian racing began with, and was built around, staying races so at a time when there is such a strong emphasis on sprinting it is refreshing to see a country club bringing back a sense of tradition.
On Saturday at Hillston the feature race on the six-event program is the 1700m Hillston Cup, with $16,000 in prizemoney.
On the same afternoon the Grenfell Jockey Club will hold its annual picnic meeting with the two features, the 1400m Grenfell Cup and the 1000m Grenfell Picnic Bracelet.
Also on Saturday, at the Warialda Jockey Club meeting, the 1400m Cup will be contested.
On Sunday, the Wellington Race Club will host its Showcase meeting, with the highlight of the afternoon being the running of the $100,000 Wellington Cup over 1700m. It’s a qualifying race for the Big Dance.