Mastablasta made the trip from Moombooldool to Leeton on Tuesday with just one placing in 17 starts but left as a winner.
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The Eric McDermott owned, trained and driven five-year-old took advantage of drawing number one to breakthrough for his first win.
Almost three years after his debut, McDermott was pleased to get a win on the board.
"He's had a few problems in his short career and hasn't had a lot of starts so I was waiting for that suitable race and this was it," McDermott said.
"He's always shown a little bit of ability and I almost thought he was good enough to win one and get his bonus.
"That is what I was after."
Mastablasta had one unplaced start as a two-year-old, finished third in one of his 11 starts the following season but only raced twice last season.
He hadn't finished better than seventh in three starts at Riverina Paceway this season but McDermott thought he appreciated racing on the smaller Leeton circuit.
Especially after drawing well.
"Sometimes the one at Leeton can be a bit tricky but he went away well and once I was in front I thought they would have to go fairly well to get past him," McDermott said.
"He trialled well two weeks ago, I brought him over to look at the track as he's only been on big tracks recently and handled it."
Mastablasta ($3 fav) held off Four Starzzz Lil ($4) to win by 2.3 metres.
Meanwhile The Muse was another to break a long winless streak on Tuesday night.
The mare brought up her 15th career win but it was almost 16 months between success stories.
After racing in the Wagga Pacers Cup last month, trainer-driver Alanah Pitt thought she appreciated a drop in grade.
"It has been a very long time coming," Pitt said.
"It is always good to get those ones up.
"She hasn't done a great deal recently but I think we have finally worked out the problem and here's hoping she keeps going."
Pitt was impressed with the 10-year-old who put in a tough performance to take out the Glenlee Cellars Pace (2147m).
Racing without cover throughout, The Muse ($3) still had enough left to hold off Rocky Branch ($2 fav) to win by 1.9 metres.
"She kept going and held her own which is really good to see," she said.
Overall honours went to Blake Jones who drove the first two winners on the six-race card.
First he combined with Col Thomas to score with Master Jude before winning aboard The Jay Doug for Kim Hillier.
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