IF THERE is one thing Trevor Patching enjoys more than a getting a winner at the races, it is getting one at his former home track at Ouyen.
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The Marong hobby trainer was able to do just that on Sunday, when his rejuvenated seven-year-old mare Waiting For You chalked up her second career victory in the NR up to 47 pace.
Waiting For You was nicely driven by Jackie Barker, who has been in the sulky for all three of Patching's wins during the 2021 racing season, including two with Waiting For You.
Patching, who was based at Mittyack during the 1980s and 90s, enjoyed reasonable success at Ouyen before his move to Queensland in 1998.
He would return to Victoria six-years later, settling at Marong, but was denied a chance to add too many more winners at Ouyen for a period of seven years after the track was closed in 2005.
It was later re-opened by the former Liberal state government in 2012 and hosts two meetings a year.
"When I came back from Queensland, I was doing a bit of driving and was lucky enough to get a win for my brother, which was a bit of a buzz," Patching said.
"We still sneak up there every now and again.
"Obviously they closed down for a long time and we couldn't go there, but it's always nice to go back and catch up with all the old friends."
Win number two for Waiting For You arrived at start number 15.
The daughter of Shadow Play and Lady Guest made her race debut in November of 2018 and had one more start in early 2019 before contracting a virus.
She would not race again for nearly two-and-a-half years, re-emerging at Swan Hill in January this year.
Unplaced in her return, Waiting For You would go on to notch-up three-straight thirds, before breaking through for her maiden win three starts later at Swan Hill.
Her next five starts yielded just one further placing before a return to form at Wedderburn Sunday week ago when she finished second behind the Terry French-trained Another Sparky.
"She's been working well and has done a good job to get back after all that time off," Patching said.
"Hopefully there might be a few more wins for her.
"We haven't really made up our mind where she'll go next, but fingers crossed she can keep it up."
Patching praised another 'wonderful' drive by Barker, who notched up her 40th win of the season in fine style.
The 65-year-old trainer has three horses currently in work, including Abbie Lincoln, who won at Stawell in April, and the maiden mare Ulani.
"(Abbie Lincoln) shows a lot at home, so hopefully one day she'll produce that at the races," he said.
"Her win at Stawell was terrific, she just needs to find that form again.
"She's grown a fair bit this time in and looks a lot better. She's still only three, so hopefully she has things ahead of her."
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