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Even-money favourite Presenting Win never gave his many backers any anxious moments after he raced away to an easy all-the-way win on Saturday.
Second-up in the $65,000 Initiation race over 1200m, the Starcraft four-year-old jumped smartly to land in front without too much hassle, with jockey Erasmus Aslam just having to make sure he held him together until the end of the journey.
That he did even when Bristol Diamond (Danny Beasley) tried to pinch some ground off him from the top of the straight, but to no avail. Presenting Win shook him off while looking he had not come out of second gear to career away to a facile win that certainly lived up to his name.
Presenting Win scored by just under five lengths from Bristol Diamond with Smiddy Byrne (John Powell) third another length away. The winning time was 1min 12.02secs for the 1200m on the Polytrack.
Meagher said he had expected his new charge to come up trumps after the potential he showed at his debut third in a Restricted Maiden race over 1000m a month ago.
“He’s a decent horse. He had some issues and he is a difficult horse to work with,” said the Australian conditioner.
“He went through the fence on the uphill track two weeks ago and luckily both my track rider Ari and the horse were okay. He has a mind of his own but he is a lot more relaxed now.
“Ari and Aslam ride him every morning and have done a great job with him. I’m over the moon for Aslam as he’s a great rider and is young at heart.
“I’m also rapt for the owners (TCR Stable) who are first-time owners.”
Meagher said he had no intention of backing the chestnut off now he has gained that first win after only two starts.
“I’ll keep him going before he goes for a break. He’s a big solid horse who loves to work,” he said.
Aslam, who was at his fifth win for the year and third consecutive for Meagher, jumped off deflecting all the credit to the trainer.
“It’s all Dan. I didn’t do anything, just sat on him,” said Aslam.
“He used to be a very nervous horse, but he’s relaxed so much now. I was able to switch him off and when I switched him back on, he just went bang.”
