A WINNER apiece at Mildura and Bendigo on Friday, and another at Tabcorp Park Melton on Saturday night has continued a brilliant season for Strathfieldsaye trainer Glenn Douglas.
The four-time Victorian premiership trainer got the ball rolling with a victory at Mildura's City Oval Paceway with six-year-old pacer Bernie Winkle on Friday afternoon, and followed up with the three-year-old Elegant Jewel on that night's 10-race program at Lord's Raceway.
Douglas made it three wins in two days with the smart pacer Vandanta scoring a tough victory in the opening race at Melton on Saturday night.
It continued a rich vein of form for the four-year-old son of Christian Cullen, who has won twice in his past seven starts, complementing a string of placings at Melton, Shepparton and Maryborough.
Referencing his winners on Friday, Douglas rated Bernie Winkle among his stable's most consistent horses after the gelding scored a third victory from his last five starts and 17th overall.
"He's a lovely old type of horse, he just runs his consistent races week in, week out," he said.
"Some are saying he is in career best form, but he just races consistently week in and week out.
"We decided to take him elsewhere (on Friday) to an easier grade and he benefited from it."
The gelding. who was driven by Monique Burnett, has now won twice at Mildura in his past three starts, the victories bookending a second placing at Tabcorp Park Melton.
Douglas will adopt a wait and see approach with Bernie Winkle, with a return to Melton among a host of options.
"We will take him where it suits, he's certainly not outclassed at Melton, but there are other choices we can make," he said.
"He's a great old horse and a favourite of the stable and is doing a good job wherever he goes."
The win of Elegant Jewel - the filly's second in 11 starts for Douglas - came as much as a relief to the trainer as it did a joy.
"He's a frustrating filly, who we've sent back to the trial a few times," he said.
"She can do things wrong, but I hope now we are starting to learn hew ways and she is starting to learn what is expected.
"She put her best foot forward (on Friday) and duly saluted. It wasn't unexpected, but she has been a bit problematic and we have had to sort her issues as we go.
"Hopefully there's a lot in her career to come."
The filly was previously raced in New Zealand and was driven to victory by his trainer.
Douglas maintains third place in the state trainers premiership with 70 wins, behind only Emma Stewart and Andy Gath - a remarkable effort for a stable with a shade over 20 horses.
"We are having a good year with the small team we have got," he said.
"We are not a stranger to being around that end of the table, but normally with a lot more horses.
"Hopefully it continues."
Douglas will have three runners at Sunday's twilight meeting at Kilmore, including Our Master George, Ozzie Sunshine and Distinctive Del.
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