Anyone wondering what a textbook Wellington Race Club win looks like had to go no further than watching the Wayne Collison-trained Planet Ex on Thursday.
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Jockey Michael Heagney got Planet Ex to the lead early in the Hermitage Hill Country Retreat Maiden Plate (1100m) and then as a number of mid-race moves being made was able to kick clear again after going down the slope and into the home straight.
He fought on well over the final few hundred metres to hold off the two $2.60 equal favourites Listen To The Band and Tenango.
It was a welcome showing for Collison after Planet Ex had followed a promising trial run at Narromine by a disappointing sixth on debut at Parkes last month.
"He never got away all that well at Parkes," Collison told Sky Thoroughbred Central after the win.
"When he trialled it was one of the best best performed trials out here in awhile.
"The horse that won ran second in Sydney yesterday (Wednesday) and there's been horses that won out of it."
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As Collison alluded to, the Parkes trial form has been extremely strong.
Planet Ex was second behind Prairie Fire, who has since moved to the stables of leading country trainer Danny Williams and finished second in benchmark 70 event on Wednesday while Cloud Factory and Praline both won at Monday's Dubbo Turf Club meeting.
Planet Ex is the latest winner after Thursday's tough effort.
After getting away well from gate one Planet Ex ($8.50) was able to set the pace along the rails from the Gayna Williams-trained Listen To The Band.
Williams' hope stayed in touch with the leader while Tenango and Walbundrie ($101) also worked forward.
They kept in touch the entire trip and Krissy Krystyna ($9.50) also pushed forward as the turn for home approached but no-one could overhaul the leader, who showed real toughness to get a first career win on the board.
It was part of a winning double for Collison as A Martin Placepick also saluted later in the meeting.
A Martin Placepick ($15) showed the kind of form many have been accustomed to in recent years when taking out a competitive Keirle's Pharmacy Benchmark 74 Handicap (1400m).
A Martin Placepick beat home the Greg Ryan-ridden Caszar ($5), who struggled for clear running for much of the final straight, and $2.60 favourite Oneness.