The promising Dubbo-based apprentice started off targeting a rails run down the home straight in the Wild Oats Benchmark 65 Showcase Handicap (1400m) but when that hole closed up he swung to the outside and powered to victory.

The six-year-old, trained at Mudgee by Gayna Williams, went on to win by one-and-three-quarter lengths.

Shadow Affair ($2.70 favourite) trailed the in-form Cowboys Karma ($3.80), trained at Dubbo by Allan Gibson, and the John Marzol-trained Bill ‘N’ Eve ($5) for the bulk of the journey but flew home in a convincing performance.

“It was lucky I wasn’t half a length closer (along the rails) because then I would have had to really stop the momentum but I got her to come out without losing any momentum and she really picked up,” the winning jockey told Sky Thoroughbred Central after the win.

Even though it was just the second race of the day the crowd was pumping trackside and there was plenty of celebration following a local victory.

Williams, the winning trainer, was delighted to see her experienced campaigner, who was making career start number 41 on Friday, get the job done.

“She’s so honest. She’s getting on a bit in age now but every preparation she had she just wants to be a race horse and she’s fantastic,” she said.

“She’s showing a little more dash in her preparation now than when we first got her and we’ve changed a few things with her and she seems to be going well.”

After jumping from barrier one, Shadow Affair had sat third while Cowboy’s Karma, who had four wins from his past five starts heading in, and Bill ‘N’ Eve getting clear of the field by three lengths at one stage.

Wheeling into the straight the 62kg Ken Dunbar and Cowboys Karma had to carry began to take an affect and he tired while Williams made his move and found open space.

Shadow Affair went on to score career win number six with Bill ‘N’ Eve second while Gibson’s hope was third.

“I didn’t think she was going to let down as well as she did but to her credit, she did well in the dry,” jockey Williams said, adding he would have been even more confident had any rain fallen.

“There’s more in her.”

The win followed on from Zedforce’s victory in the opening race of the day.

The John Thompson-trained Zedforce edged out hot favourite Star Boy in a photo finish.