With star apprentice Clenton in the saddle, Conroy's Gap ($4.00) came from off the speed to get past a gallant Shadow Force ($8.00, Martin Haley), with the evergreen Murray's Sun ($7.00, Daniel Pitomac) storming home for third.

Williams has had a hard time placing the five-year-old, which is owned by members of the Banjo Club and is named after one of Banjo Paterson's most famous poems.

"He gets big weights so we have to be particular with where we race him but the horse is going well," Williams said.

"Samantha's claim today brought his weight down a bit, and even though he's a big horse it came in handy today.

"I thought Shadow Force was home today when he kicked away halfway down the straight but my horse did a good job to wear him down."

Earlier in the program Dubbo trainer Mark Jones had an interesting 40 minutes when a recent stable acquisition snatched defeat from the jaws of victory, and one of his other runners scored at a good price.

More By Chance ($5.00, Ken Dunbar) appeared set to break through when he had a five-length lead with 200m to go in the Craig Carolan Maiden Handicap (1020m) but the former Sydney galloper got a stitch in the final stages and was run down by debutant Pixie Gaze ($4.60, Beany Panya).

But that was forgotten when Victorian Crown ($12.00, Mathew Cahill) saluted in the Roma Caravans Class 1 Handicap (1320m).

The gelding made light work of a wide gate and a four-kilogram weight disadvantage to prove too good for Raasay Rose ($12.00, Vad Bolozhinskyi).

"It was a beautiful ride and the horse was fit enough and got home well," Jones said.

"He showed enough last prep to go on with him and he's put together some good runs this preparation too so we're very happy with him.

"We'll play along and see what happens but hopefully in the future he might turn into a cups horse."