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It took a little more than two years, but trainer Tim Murphy finally got his first winner on his home track when Prince Of Snippers took out the Southern IML Pathology Handicap (2000m) at Kembla Grange on Saturday.
Murphy had been frustrated at his inability to land a winner at Kembla but Prince Of Snippers, having his fourth run at home this preparation, broke the duck for his trainer.
"It's something that you think about because this is where I come to work every morning," Murphy said.
"I got here Melbourne Cup day two years ago and that is a long time to wait (for a winner). I have had a couple of horses ready to win here but something has always gone wrong.
"And the others have won but the right race always seemed to be somewhere else. This bloke is unusual because he has had all his runs here this preparation and we thought he was ready today.
"He is a pretty nice horse and he showed it with that win."
Prince Of Snippers also gave Brett Poulus a much needed boost, as he scored by two lengths from Regal Cat with Emperor's Reign a half-length back in third.
Poulus started his career at Kembla and is working out of Warwick Farm as he makes a comeback to the riding ranks following a back injury and suspension.
"It's tough because you need wins like this to get rides and it is a slow process," Poulus said.
"I'm riding work for a couple of trainers including David Payne and hopefully things are about to pick up."
Another former Kembla-based rider, apprentice Ben Vassallo, had earlier steered the Gerald Ryan-trained Trebbiano to a sit-sprint victory in the Peoplecare Health Insurance Maiden Handicap (2000m).
The three-year-old will head for a spell with a derby campaign likely in the autumn after dashing home in 34 seconds for his final 600m in scoring by two lengths.
He was the first half of a winning double for Ryan, with Reine De Jeu taking out the Lawrence Hargrave Hospital Class 1 Handicap (1300m).
It took a little more than two years, but trainer Tim Murphy finally got his first winner on his home track when Prince Of Snippers took out the Southern IML Pathology Handicap (2000m) at Kembla Grange on Saturday.
Murphy had been frustrated at his inability to land a winner at Kembla but Prince Of Snippers, having his fourth run at home this preparation, broke the duck for his trainer.
"It's something that you think about because this is where I come to work every morning," Murphy said.
"I got here Melbourne Cup day two years ago and that is a long time to wait (for a winner). I have had a couple of horses ready to win here but something has always gone wrong.
"And the others have won but the right race always seemed to be somewhere else. This bloke is unusual because he has had all his runs here this preparation and we thought he was ready today.
"He is a pretty nice horse and he showed it with that win."
Prince Of Snippers also gave Brett Poulus a much needed boost, as he scored by two lengths from Regal Cat with Emperor's Reign a half-length back in third.
Poulus started his career at Kembla and is working out of Warwick Farm as he makes a comeback to the riding ranks following a back injury and suspension.
"It's tough because you need wins like this to get rides and it is a slow process," Poulus said.
"I'm riding work for a couple of trainers including David Payne and hopefully things are about to pick up."
Another former Kembla-based rider, apprentice Ben Vassallo, had earlier steered the Gerald Ryan-trained Trebbiano to a sit-sprint victory in the Peoplecare Health Insurance Maiden Handicap (2000m).
The three-year-old will head for a spell with a derby campaign likely in the autumn after dashing home in 34 seconds for his final 600m in scoring by two lengths.
He was the first half of a winning double for Ryan, with Reine De Jeu taking out the Lawrence Hargrave Hospital Class 1 Handicap (1300m).
