The timing of a rare win could not have been much better for Stewart Richards.
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With his shifts cut back due to the coronavirus crisis, Richards only had a few cents in his bank account before Shadow Sign delivered at Riverina Paceway on Sunday.
Shadow Sign become the first winner Richards had trained in seven years at Coolamon last May and repeated that effort to claim an important NSW bonus as well.
Richards was thrilled with his performance.
"It was very well timed," Richards said.
"It was lovely with the way we are living at the moment and work being down.
"It was very much needed."
Stewart has been doing most of the driving on Shadow Sign, who put the writing on the wall with a second last time out, but elected to hand the reins over to Jackson Painting.
The pair were forced to do things tough, racing without cover for most of the TAB Odds & Evens Maiden Pace (1740m) before holding off Mustang Cruiser to win by a short half head.
"I'm only a hobby trainer and a pretty ordinary driver and usually put Jackson on or Blake (Jones) when I think the horses are going good enough," Richards said.
"If I think they are a good chance they always find an extra 20 metres those boys as they are young and I'm too old for it.
"You put the young guns on and he drove him brilliantly. He really summed him up.
"He had his first drive on him last week and he got a few shocks but had him sorted out (on Sunday)."
Shadow Sign won in only his second start, at Coolamon's non-TAB meeting almost a year ago, but Richards admitted the five-year-old remains a work in progress despite more success in his 19th race.
Richards sent him to Donna Castles in Victoria looking to win a Vicbred bonus and just managed to snare half of it with a restricted win in the last few days of his eligibility.
Shadow Sign is one of two horses Richards has it work but is the only one racing at this stage.
"He's our little pet and he's had a lot of issues over the years but it is nice to get a win," he said.
"He's picked up both his bonuses so it was a pretty big win."
The success was part of the second straight double for Painting at Riverina Paceway.
He won twice with his uncle David Kennedy at Friday's meeting before taking out the West Wyalong Cup with the ultra-impressive Whereyabinboppin for the Euroley trainer later on the card.
Wagga races again on Friday.
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