NEW Charlton trainer Michael Gadsden did not have to wait long to rack up his first win from his new training base.
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The 28-year-old trainer, who has headed north from his former base at Ararat, scored an early breakthrough courtesy of Markleigh Jill at Lord's Raceway on Saturday night.
The seven-year-old mare was patiently driven by Denbeigh Wade, before unleashing a sharp sprint in the home straight to win by 3.4m from the Brent Lilley-trained Double O Heaven, with Gone And Forgotten (Mark Thompson/Ellen Tormey) back in third.
It was career win number nine from 103 starts for Markleigh Jill, who was formerly trained at Mildura by Kylie Bevington.
The Shadow Play mare has performed solidly in her 11 starts for Gadsden and Wade, with a second at Mildura earlier in the month preceding her Bendigo win.
Gadsden was stoked to have his first win as a Charlton trainer in the bank after relocating about three weeks ago.
"She had been pretty consistent before she got up here and finally the other night she got a bit of luck," he said.
"It was good to just settle in and know you are on the right track at the new home.
"She's a good, little honest horse, who has been a good little money-spinner. Since we've had her she's had 11 starts for about $11,000, so she's a consistent little earner.
"She will be up in grade now and will have to draw well to go well, but she won't be far away, even if she won't win out of turn."
While the 'first Charlton' winner came relatively quickly, Gadsden was unlucky it had not come a little sooner at Mildura the week before, where he had to settle for a second with Markleigh Jill and a close fourth with Markleigh Caz.
"We took two to Mildura a week ago and she was one of them and we thought she (Markleigh Jill) was going to go close," he said.
"She had to do just a little bit too much work early and (Diesel Don) picked her up in the last 50 metres or so.
"We knew we were somewhere around the mark, but to get the win the other night at Bendigo, and to have the old trotter (King Denny) run fourth first-up in one of the metro races, we know we are on the right path."
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