Alexandra Demure wins at Narromine to finally break her maiden

"Don't tell me it's going to win a race," Hodges exclaimed to the crowd after the Justin Stanley-trained mare took out the Narromine USMC Rising Sun Maiden Plate (1300m).

The result did come as a shock as Alexndra Demure has so often been a cause of frustration, for punters as well as connections.

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The win came in her 24^th career start with Stanley the one to get her there.

She had previously been trained in Victoria by Luke Oliver before linking with Cameron Crockett at Mudgee.

Crockett grew frustrated and she made the move to Stanley, who even thought about retiring her at one point.

But he kept going and on Thursday Alexnadra Demure ($31) got the lead midway down the straight after sitting midfield for much of the journey.

She went on to win three-quarters-of-a-length from A Krupt Pick ($10) and Eskhara ($7).

The hometown comforts may have made all the difference, with Stanley training out of Narromine Turf Club.

There was another shock later in the day, when the Clint Lundholm-trained Any Blinkin' Day took out the Narromine Diggers Cup feature event.

Any Blinkin' Day saluted at the odds of $41 in what was a huge return to form.

The largely-built gelding went into the event after running seventh last time out, in an event also at Narromine, and took out many who beat him that day in Thursday's 1100m cup.

But it proved no issue as Jake Pracey-Holmes got him towards the front early and then took control in the straight, winning from the gutsy Attalea ($4.40 favourite) and the Dar Lunn-trained Zoutenant.