STRATHFIEDSAYE trainer Glenn Douglas expects Vandanta to relish the change to a region-based racing model following Friday night's win at Lord's Raceway.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The five-year-old gelding was making his first start at Bendigo in nearly 12 months and showed plenty of courage in the pouring rain to outlast the similarly well-credentialed Animated, from the Ross Graham stable.
Twenty-two of Vandata's past 23 runs had been at Tabcorp Park Melton
"There hadn't been a lot between him and Animated at Melton, so it wasn't surprising those two fought out the finish," Douglas said.
"It was a nice change for him to come back to Bendigo - he hadn't raced anywhere but Melton for quite a while.
"It was probably a drop in class, even though Animated has been making his presence felt at Melton. The rest of them were horses he hasn't met for a while."
Douglas was one of three competitors to emerge with a double on Friday after the final race win of the enigmatic mare Elegant Jewel.
The four-year-old was driven by Ellen Tormey and beat out another Douglas-trained pacer Ozzie Battler for the win.
"She's a horse that has promised a lot, but done quite a bit wrong in her career," Douglas said.
"Hopefully we are starting to work her out a bit and hopefully she can get a bit of form on the board.
"She's certainly a lot better than her form suggests and she showed that when she does everything right and is fit and healthy, she can peel off some nice sectionals."
Trainer Gary Donaldson and driver Alex Ashwood also ended the meeting with doubles.
Trainer Gary Donaldson and driver Alex Ashwood also ended the meeting with doubles.
Donaldson won the first and fourth races with Rocks Arnt Pets and Leigha Miller, while Ashwood scored wins aboard the Kate Hargreaves-trained Roquefort Cheese and Michaelle Eastman-trained Aleppo Murphy.
Roquefort Cheese, a three-year old filly, was having only her second start for the Hargreaves-Ashwood stable after starting her career with Andy Gath.
READ MORE:
Have you signed up to the Bendigo Advertiser's daily newsletter and breaking news emails? You can register below and make sure you are up to date with everything that's happening in central Victoria.