Wayne Collison's patience paid dividends on Sunday when the home-town trainer tasted success in the Narromine USMC Vietnam Veterans Handicap (1100m).
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Collison's filly, Savannah Girl ($5.50, Ken Dunbar) led all the way on debut, beating the Cameron Crockett-trained Exciteanation ($2.60 fav, Greg Ryan) by one-and-three-quarter lengths, with Sweet Weekend ($21.00, Melissa Hames) in third.
Savannah Girl trialled well behind Heza Thief at Narromine back in October of last year, but Collison elected to put the three-year-old filly into the paddock to mature.
Heza Thief has since stamped himself as a horse of great promise with two recent wins, which gave Collison confidence heading into Sunday's race.
"When they trialled here Ken Parsons (Heza Thief's trainer) asked me how she went and I said she went OK. He told me they had a wrap on his horse as well and he's come out since and won two from two," Collison said.
"My filly wasn't really standing up to it all so I put her in the paddock.
"It was nice to see her come out today and do what she did because races can be a lot different to trials."
Savannah Girl was able to jump well and lead in the early stages, holding out Exciteanation, which drifted late in the betting after being odds-on earlier in the morning.
Rounding the turn Exciteanation drifted towards the centre of the track, allowing Savannah Girl to pinch a break that could not be mowed down.
"There was some confidence about Cameron's horse so I wasn't too sure we would win, but she did everything right and got the result which is good," Collison said.
"It's a good reward for her owner, Ken Hutchison. He has raced a few horses with me over the years and he only paid $1000 for this filly and another horse at a deceased estate sale.
"She wasn't in the best condition when I got her but we've taken our time and been rewarded. She has a few quirks so I'll have to see how she pulls up before I make any plans though."
The win was the second leg of a race-to-race double for Dunbar who had earlier piloted Like That Tiger to victory for Dubbo trainer Mark Jones in the opening event on the program.