A change of scenery has worked wonder for Prototype, as the four-year-old recorded the first win of her career in the first start for new trainers Tara and Phillipe Vigouroux.
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Prototype was previously trained by Jamie Thomsen, but made the short move to the stables of fellow Hawkesbury trainers the Vigourouxs in late December.
Friday's race was the first time the mare had raced west of the Blue Mountains, and was one to remember as she held of the challenging pack to claim victory in the Bathurst Carpet Court Maiden Handicap (1300m).
The favourable barrier draw of one and an even more favourable start would prove the difference for Prototype, as champion jockey Greg Ryan led the mare to the front earlier, a position she would never relinquished.
"It was a great effort by Greg Ryan," co-trainer Phillipe Vigouroux said.
"Grey Ryan won the race, because the horse is a bit limited."
Prototype only came into the Vigouroux stable five weeks ago and the mare's maiden victory in her first start for the team is something they'll cherish for a while.
"She'll probably come back for a Class 1 or something similar," he said on Prototype's next run.
"We're not going to aim to high, you know. We'll just enjoy it."
While $2.80 favourite Prototype basically led from start to finish, it was a tight in the closing stages as Gogh Fox ($3) finished just a third of a length back.
Bartandthequeen ($26) grabbed third.
Dissisoul ($21) was the lone Dubbo hope in the race.
Dissisoul, trained by Garry Lunn and ridden by Billy Cray on Friday, seemed well placed when he entered the straight on the outside but couldn't make any real ground on the leaders and finished in sixth spot.
After taking out the opener, Ryan would go on to enjoy even more success only two races later when he guided Kiwi horse Vendome ($3 favourite) to victory in the Central West Electrical CG&E Maiden Plate (1100 metres).
It was the first ever victory for the Edward Cummings-trained gelding, who had three previous starts before Friday's meeting.
Surprisingly, Ryan wasn't aboard the early winner for Bjorn Baker.
Baker and Ryan had developed something of a lethal combination in recent years at Tyers Park but it was Brandon Lerena who piloted Do Not Disturb ($3.20) to victory in the Erin's Quality Outdoor Power Centre F&M Maiden Plate (1100m).
Ryan was aboard the Garry White-trained Global Challenge but the $10 hope had to settle for a fifth-placed finish.
Warwick Farm-based Richard Litt won the day's fourth event.
