There was early joy for Kody Nestor on Sunday as his home track hosted its biggest meeting of the year.
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Prior to sending around some of his stables stars in the day's main events, Nestor saw Democracy Manifest give an impressive showcase of his potential in the second of 10 races at Dubbo Turf Club.
Democracy Manifest produced an eye-catching run home to take out the $40,000 Ray White Rural Country Only Showcase Maiden Plate (1000m).
It was a welcome result for Nestor's lightly-raced gelding, who was first-up on Sunday after placing once in two starts during his two-year-old preparation.
"Watching him in the run, he just doesn't quite know how to race yet so he's only going to improve off it," Nestor told Sky Thoroughbred Central after the win.
"He got a little warm in the yard so there's a lot of improvement left in him. Probably six months down the track you'll see the full potential of him.
"He's a nice horse going forward and there's a terrific bunch of owners so I'm really happy for them."
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Democracy Manifest made a few people sit up and take note when he ran second on debut at Dubbo in March.
He then finished ninth in the Wellington Boot before being put in the paddock.
After finishing first and second in recent trials, he started Sunday's race as the $2.25 favourite and didn't disappoint those who backed him.
With Anthony Cavallo in the saddle, Democracy Manifest settled towards the back of the eight-race field early on as Brief Statement ($8.50) and Akaka Falls ($3.30) pushed the pace up front.
The Alison Smith-trained Brief Statement led the field into the home straight but Akaka Falls soon took the lead while Circularity ($4.60) and Democracy Manifest wound up in the middle of the track.
With roughly 200m to go Cavallo urged Democracy Manifest to find another gear and he responded in style, kicking clear of the field on the way to winning by just over three lengths.
"He's been trialling well for this and last prep was more of a learning curve," Cavallo said.
"It still is, he's a bit erratic in his actions but he's been trialling well and things went to plan then. He settled well and when I asked him to let down he went bang.
"It was just a matter of negotiating a run and it panned out lovely."
Akaka Falls, Brief Statement, and Circularity were second-to-fourth respectively and all showed that could be worth watching next race.
The victory for Demoncracy Manifest came after Brett Cavanough's visitor from Scone, Two Ya Got ($6.50), won the opening event.
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