A CHANGE in tactics paid dividends as the Rod Symons-trained Luna Chara broke her maiden at start number seven over 1450m at Tatura on Saturday.
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But the three-year-old filly's overdue victory did not come without more than a few anxious moments for her Bendigo trainer.
Symons declared his intention pre-race for Luna Chara ($5.50) to race forward in a bid to counter the short-priced favourite Land Of The Brave ($1.60).
That idea did not exactly go to plan after the filly jumped poorly and had to do plenty of early work to eventually settle behind the leader Chance Given.
Patrick Moloney had Luna Chara in front approaching the final turn and the filly showed plenty of resilience and a dash of class to hold out Land Of The Brave and win by 1.2 lengths with the fast-finishing Benefactress close up in third.
The win came as a comfort to Symons after the filly had peeled off four consecutive thirds before her last place fifth at Bendigo earlier in the month.
He hoped it might be the start of brighter times ahead with the daughter of group 1-winner Skilled and Livid.
"She'd had six starts for four thirds and that last start at Bendigo was a very strong VOBIS Gold race, so (Saturday) was a little bit of a drop down in quality," Symons said.
"I think she can get over a little bit of ground. She's not bred to, but she might."
The win gave Symons his third winner of the 2020-21 season for 26 starters.
There was further success for the Bendigo training ranks at Tatura, with veteran trainer Neville Kennedy scoring a sixth win from 35 starts with Don't Make Me Wait.
Four of those wins have been achieved this calendar year after the gelding recorded three-straight wins at Stawell, Swan Hill and Warracknabeal in March and April.
Don't Make Me Wait was brilliantly ridden by Jack Hill and their victory never looked in doubt after hitting the front in the straight before going on to win by 2.2 lengths over the 1980m trip.
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