It might have happened a little later than he expected, but Allan Gibson was delighted to see Alaskan Aura score a first win on Monday.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Alaskan Aura took out the McDonald's Dubbo and Wellington Maiden Handicap (1300m) at Gibson's home track of Dubbo Turf Club.
The win came in the slightly-built gelding's tenth career start and came after a couple of close seconds in the past.
"We've been hoping for a win for awhile, to be honest," Gibson said with a wry smile.
"We thought he'd win at Coonamble but Allan Denham brought one down and knocked him off and he was beaten by one of [Scott] Singleton's [two starts back] so we've been knocking on the door and it finally happened."
Alaskan Aura returned from a spell late last year and after a ninth and Mudgee and fifth at his home track, he was edged out by Singleton's More Spice at Dubbo.
READ ALSO:
A disappointing ninth at Forbes followed before jockey Ken Dunbar sent him to the winner's circle on Monday.
"His last couple of starts he got crowded out early and he's only little and doesn't like getting crowded," Gibson said.
"Ken opted to move out and get away from the mob today and he got in his stride and finished it off."
Alaskan Aura ($5) was one of the last away but Dunbar worked his way up to midfield and to the outside and out of the way.
Rodney Robb's Arkum Asylum ($8) set the pace up front while Dissisoul ($31) and Jesseira ($61) also pushed to the front.
Arkum Asylum and Dissisoul continued to battle for the lead in the straight but Alaskan Aura soon began to wind up along the outside and ran down the leaders to win by a half-length.
He's only little so you can't over-race him. He's only pony-size, really.
- Allan Gibson
"He hit the line well," Gibson said, adding there was no great plan moving forward.
"We'll see how he pulls up and look for a class one over 1300 or 1400.
"He's only little so you can't over-race him. He's only pony-size, really."
There was back-to-back wins for hometown trainers as Gibson's success was followed by success for Cindy Monaghan.
Monaghan scored victory with Mayaman, who delivered as a $3.10 favourite after missing out a short-price last time out.
Mayaman had plenty to do when entering the straight in midfield but jockey Anthony Cavallo moved to the inside and powered forward, going on to win by a length-and-a-quarter from Empowered Madam ($3.90) and Snipselva ($61).
"He's been a bit of an in-an-out horse," Tim Moses, Monaghan's partner, told Sky Thoroughbred Central.
"He put it all together today, he's been threatening to do it a lot of times, and he'll go on to better things."
Kenny Succeed and Sipharderson continued to local joy with wins for Kody Nestor and Clint Lundholm respectively.