TWO months of frustration and near misses finally ended for Wagga trainer Trevor Sutherland after Real Key's Kurrajong Cup win spearheaded a big day for the stable on Saturday.
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Sutherland had secured just three winners since Real Key last won on March 30, but three wins on the Murrumbidgee Turf Club program emphatically broke the dam wall.
The $7 odds for Real Key for the 1200m feature, returning from a six-week freshen up, seemed generous considering he had been racing in tougher company including a fifth in the Albury City Handicap, an open level win on March 30 and fourth in the Wellington Plate.
Jockey Danielle Scott positioned Real Key just off strong pacesetter and eventual third placegetter Fermanagh ($4), and let down well in the straight to hold off $2.80 favourite Straover.
"We've been having a run of seconds and thirds and getting the odd winner and it's nice to have a good day. That's the way it goes, you have to chip away at the coalface and I thought they were in well placed races.
"Real Key's one of the better horses in the southern district and he'd raced at a higher level in the autumn, so I thought I'd give him a freshen up.
"We thought this would be a nice way to kick it along and with Danielle on him, she got him into the race really well and with good speed in the race, it suits him down to the ground when he can track something."
Blazing Zone finally find the right race to break his maiden on the tenth attempt in the Wagga Plumbing Service Maiden Plate (1660m).
The $4.60 shot has been racing in Class One company but the three-year-old was too strong for $3.10 favourite Crocodile Cod by a length after jockey Brendan Ward positioned him midfield.
"He was probably the most satisfying win of the day. It's very hard in NSW to get stayers away, he's been racing out of grade in Class ones and I think he was the first maiden home on four occasions, but finding the trip he needs has been hard," Sutherland said.
"He was dominant on the line and it was very rewarding."
Sutherland's other winner, Jungle Book ($4.80), backed up a strong second behind the classy Parliament last start with victory in the Thomas Bros Benchmark 58 Handicap (1800m).
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