RARELY does a Kyneton race meeting pass without at least one home track trainer finding a winner.
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On Wednesday, it was the turn of Ted Grogan and his three-year-old filly Ellanova to clinch and share the honours.
The daughter of Group 1-winning mare Choisir relished the soft 7 conditions at home, coming from last before the home turn to mow down his rivals and record a 1.8m margin over Allmylife, with Kravitz back in third.
Despite her eventual $26 starting price, Grogan admitted he was confident of the filly's chances, referencing her good fifth on similar ground at Bendigo during her first preparation in May.
"We had big raps on her today. She has been going great, but hasn't had much luck in her runs," he said.
"She likes the soft tracks; she ran well at Bendigo on a soft track. She's going well."
With her maiden win in the bank at start number 15, Grogan has high hopes of bigger wins with Ellanova, who was superbly ridden by Zac Spain.
"I have with this filly, I think she will make a midweek in town horse," he said.
"She's a good little horse; she's a nice type and handy to do anything with."
It was the first winner of the season from six starters for Grogan, who has just four horses in work.
His most recent success before Wednesday came at Kyneton last November with the veteran gelding Evolvement, who also saluted at long odds of $61.
The hard-working trainer declared the three-year-old's victory as a team-win, acknowledging the role of his hard-working trackwork riders Sam Noble and Lauren Bilson.
Ellanova provided Spain with the first leg of a race-to-race double after he partnered the Lloyd Kennewell-trained debutante Scream Dream to a maiden victory over 1200m.
The 24-year-old finds himself in good form with three wins from his last six rides, including a midweek city win at Sandown earlier in the month aboard the Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr-trained Zero Doubt.
His consistent run includes a Listed race third on Morvada in The Sofitel (1400m) at Flemington.
Osborne makes it two for local training ranks
One local winner became two following an emphatic victory later in the program to the George Osborne-trained Southern Turf.
The six-year-old gelding further enhanced his reputation as a Kyneton track specialist with a third win from four starts and was beautifully ridden by apprentice Tayla Childs.
Back on home turf, Osborne was always confident of success with Southern Turf.
"He loves the place - he has a great record here," he said.
"We have had him in and out a few times. I'm a real barrier nuffy and I keep scratching him from bad barriers, but when I turn up here I keep running him.
"I know he knows the track better than anyone, so I am happy to run him from anywhere."
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