Former jockey David Keating served a long 'apprenticeship" before becoming a trainer in his own right and got his first reward at Mowbray on Wednesday night.
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Keating led in his first winner after Epic Song made the most of a rails-hugging ride by Codi Jordan to take out the Class 1 Handicap.
The three-year-old gelding was only Keating's fifth runner since taking out his licence a few weeks ago.
"It's a massive thrill to finally get this off my back," he said.
"I've probably always wanted to train by myself but I've been a bit of a late maturer.
"I thought it was about time I got my stuff together and had a bit of a go."
Keating said he was indebted to the trainers he had worked for around Australia including locals Adam Trinder and Glenn Stevenson.
"I've had a lot of help and I've got to thank (owner-breeder) Rhonda Hall for giving me a chance with this horse," Keating said.
"He's an honest, little trier and has been a bit of a surprise packet for us.
"At home, he will work alongside the slowest horse or the fastest but he switches right on on game day."
Jordan settled Epic Song on the rail not far behind the leaders but got shuffled back to midfield approaching the home turn.
It mattered little, however, as the seas parted and she never had to leave the fence as Epic Song finished too well for the favourite Summer Fire who'd had a wide run.
Punters were very close to the mark, with the winner firming from $6.50 to $4.60 and runner-up from $5.00 to $2.90.
PEACE WAS UPON HIM AFTER BRIEF SCARE
Rowella trainer Dylan Clark opened his account for the season when Peace Be Upon Him won the Maiden Plate but he had his heart in his mouth in the home straight.
The well-backed favourite raced on the rail just behind the leader Magic Typhoon until the home turn when jockey David Pires moved to the outside to issue his challenge.
However Peace Be Upon Him wanted to lay in and for a while looked like he was going to throw the race away.
"I thought he was going to get beaten," Clark admitted. "But he knuckled down when Dave straightened him up.
"He's a pretty fair horse but he's still learning.
"I think he's a lot better than he showed tonight.
"He's better on the outside - he didn't really want to go from the 600m."
Pires said Peace Be Upon Him was "all new to the game" but had a bright future.
"He reared up out of the barriers and had to chase for a long way but it was good to see him get to the line," the jockey said.
Clark said Peace Be Upon Him was sent to his stable by Sydney owner Anthony McDonnell who previously had horses with the late Terry Roles.
He was only the trainer's eighth runner so far this season.
The first two placegetters totally dominated betting, with the winner backed from $3.00 to $2.30 and Magic Typhoon from $6.00 to $3.20.
MAY NOT BE SMART BUT HE'S A CHARMER
Heza Charmer is "not the sharpest tool in the shed" according to trainer Bill Ryan but his owners have 20,000 extra reasons to love him after his gritty win in the 1420m Maiden.
The race carried $20,000 in Tasbred bonuses to go on top of the $13,125 winner's cheque.
After a wide run from an outside gate, Brendon McCoull lifted Heza Charmer to a half neck win over the pacemaker Queen's The Word with heavily-backed favourite Alpine Blast a half length away third.
Heza Charmer started at $7.50 but, even at that price, Ryan said he could not have backed the four-year-old.
"I don't know who keeps backing him - I couldn't back him with laundered money," the trainer said.
"He has taken a bit of working out because he's not real bright.
"He is rock-hard fit but just can't get his act together.
"Even tonight he was a tad slow away and took a long time to wind up.
"But, this might give him a bit of confidence."
McCoull said that Heza Charmer had the makings of a nice horse ability-wise "but I don't know that he'll ever get there.
"Bill has been patient with him but he still does a bit wrong," the jockey said.
APPRENTICE WINS AFTER 'A PEACH'
Co-trainer Dean Wells was enthusiastic about the prospects of stable apprentice Taylor Johnstone after she won the Class 1 Handicap on Gee Gees Jennia.
"This mare has been unlucky a couple of times but tonight Taylor gave her a peach of a ride and she got the job done," Wells said.
"She got into a lovely spot then got the run when it counted and the mare was good enough to take it."
Wells said that Johnstone, who didn't have her first ride until September, was "going well."
"She is a really well-balanced rider and hopefully it's onwards and upwards for her," the trainer said.
Johnstone said Gee Gees Jennia "travelled beautifully".
"There was a little bit of bumping going on but as soon as the gap opened she flew home," the apprentice said.
ERICA FOLLOWS RAIL TO ANOTHER WIN
Apprentice Erica Byrne Burke made it three wins from four rides on smart mare Vivilici in the Benchmark 68 Handicap.
Byrne Burke made the most of barrier 1 and never left the rail as she got Vivilici home by a half length over favourite Red Letter Lady.
Trainer Adam Trinder said that pattern of racing suited Vivilici perfectly.
"She's very good in that scenario when she can track up behind them and, when the run presents, she's able to capitalise on it very quickly," Trinder said.
"She has a really short, sharp turn of foot."
Trinder said Vivilici may get an opportunity to win a good race over the carnival against her own sex over her preferred 1200m to 1400m..