Time to mature and develop proved the key for Il De Re ($26) as she took out the Sportsman Club Hotel Maiden Handicap (1200m) at Murrumbidgee Turf Club.

Wagga trainer Wayne Carroll always had an opinion of the mare and he, along with the Cheshire family, reaped the rewards as she struck first-up at her fourth race start.

After three unplaced efforts in her first campaign, Carroll was pleased to see the four-year-old put it all together to start her preparation.

"We've always thought she's had some ability but last time in whatever could go wrong, did go wrong," Carroll said.

"First up, she got held up badly. Second up, she was a bit plain but she's a very seasonal thing and last time in we couldn't really work her with any other horses. She would try to kick them and things like that.

"Third up at Gundagai, even though she might have had enough, she had an issue with the bit in her mouth."

Carroll said she had returned well this preparation.

"Everything had been good, her jump outs and everything had been good," he said.

"It's the old saying, a bit like footballers, you can be March champions but you've got to come out and get the job done. I was hoping she would but they can make a fool of you at times.

"She's come back in this time and settled into her work better. We're able to work her with other stablemates and she's matured."

Il De Re was aided by a top ride from Jess Taylor. She scored by a half length from Shelby Sixtysix ($8.50) and Bemightyman ($7.00).

Carroll was also happy with the run of stablemate Ember in the following race, where she ran third in the second division of the same 1200m maiden.

Meantime, the long-priced winners continued when Sizzleonthebridge ($12) took out the Treasury Wine Estates Benchmark 58 Handicap (1200m).

Wantabadgery trainer Rodger Waters was thrilled as connections took as much as $81 about the four-year-old.

"We were confident he would get the 1200," Waters told Sky Racing.

"He nearly got the 1400 at Albury three starts ago with 59 on his back, he was only beaten two lengths, in a good race so we weren't concerned about the 1200.

"In fact, we weren't concerned about anything. We got $81 and we're laughing."

Brendan Ward rode Sizzleonthebridge to victory.

It was his third win for the Waters stable, as he held off the fast-finishing Jodhpur ($3.60) and Kruanui ($18) by one length, with a half head between second and third.

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