Just a short while ago, Craig Conron had cause to believe his training days at Flemington might be over, but on Saturday, he was welcomed back into the winner’s circle.
The Geelong horseman made a triumphant return as Vegas Jack continued its winning ways in the $150,000 Country Racing It’s Got It All Trophy over 2540 metres.
It represented Conron’s first Flemington winner since Distant Melody provided his most recent Black Type success during the 2007 Melbourne Cup Carnival, and the 62-year-old was thrilled to be back.
“It’s great to be back here and it’s great to be having a winner here,” he said. “I get a kick anytime they win, but when it’s a Saturday at Flemington it’s a much bigger kick.”
Vegas Jack ($9.50), with Dean Yendall in the saddle, won by 1-1/4 lengths from The Western Front ($5.50), while Bold Soul ($7) was another half-length away in third.
Conron has had limited opportunities to race at Flemington over the past couple of seasons, having taken a six-year break from training following brief stints in Tasmania and the Northern Territory.
During that time, he helped his daughter manage her mobile coffee van business.
Conron purchased Vegas Jack for just $13,000 online in January last year, after the gelding had finished unplaced in two runs for Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman.
The So You Think gelding won on its debut for Conron and has since added five more victories, including its last four races consecutively.
This Flemington win followed a benchmark 66 success at Swan Hill during its carnival, and Conron is enthusiastic about the four-year-old’s future prospects.
“I still think he’s six or 12 months off doing what he’s going to do, so what we’re getting now, I know it sounds silly, is a bonus,” Conron said.
Conron was not the only trainer to end a lengthy Flemington drought on Saturday, with Alex Rae also registering his second winner at the venue.
The young Cranbourne trainer presented Imperatriz’s half-brother, I’mateez, to win the $150,000 Rod Johnson 3YO Handicap (1100m).
This was Rae’s first Flemington winner since his debut success on Oaks Day in 2018 when Cochada won the Country Final.
“I trained my first winner here with my first runner in 2018 and it’s been eight years between drinks,” Rae said. “Everywhere else been pretty fruitful, so this is a great result.”
I’mateez, a gelding by Capitalist that started at $9, won by 1-3/4 lengths from La Astro Chat ($16), with Prestar ($4.20) a neck behind in third.
For those looking to place a wager, exploring the betting sites can provide access to competitive racing odds.
