Leeton trainer Paul Symes didn’t have the best view of his first win as a trainer.
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Symes brought up his first win with Kennys Fella at West Wyalong on Saturday after almost two years in the sport.
But he was almost 100 metres away after finishing last on stablemate Wheres The Cash in the Armstrong Toyota Pace (1740m).
Todd Prest steered the five-year-old to his first victory, who was returning from almost two years away from the track.
While he didn’t have a good vantage point, the 33-year-old was thrilled to bring up his maiden victory with a new horse to his stable.
“I definitely bookended the race, that’s for sure,” Symes said.
“I was trying to listen to Allan Wallett’s call to make sure Todd got there.
“I had the ears pricked.”
Kennys Fella ($4) enjoyed a good run behind leader Just Saying ($3.20 fav) before finding a run at the perfect time.
With clear running for the majority of the home straight, he was able to storm to the lead before holding off Percynjack ($4.80) to win by 1.2 metres.
Symes was impressed with Todd’s drive.
“The other bloke didn’t go very good but Todd drove him a treat,” Symes said.
“He was very patient.
“It was good to get the monkey off my back.”
Symes thought he had secured his first win a lot earlier when Wheres The Cash scored at Wagga in 2013, only to lose it on protest.
“It was a bit of redemption,” he said.
Kennys Fella had two unplaced runs as a three-year-old before heading out for a long spell.
However he has returned a different horse since making the move to Symes’ stable
“He come up pretty quick actually,” he said.
“He didn’t have a great deal of conditioning on him as he’s a real athletic type of horse.
“He’s had three trials and every time he’s gone to the track he’s just improved.”
His last trial effort was a third behind Ruato Bay on Tuesday.
It gave the 33-year-old a good feeling heading towards the non-TAB meeting.
“We were pretty confident going in after his trial on Tuesday,” Symes said.
“He got home from the back of the field and they came home in 58 seconds so we were confident he was pretty right.”
Symes credited his grandfather Don for peaking his interest in the sport.
“Just growing up he had a love and a passion for them and there was always horses on his farm,” Symes said.
