Six weeks after gaining her licence, Ward tasted success on her hometown track with Charlie Studleigh on Tuesday.

However the big Leeton win has been decades in the making.

As a schoolgirl Ward worked in stables, and she even studied equine science at university, but didn't use her degree in her professional life.

However after tasting plenty of success as an owner, and helping sons Ryan and Connor come through the mini-trotting ranks, Ward decided to give training a shot herself.

"I bought a few horses and it's evolved from there," Ward said.

"Shaun (Snudden) trained a few for us and my two boys have grown up with the horses.

"Both were interested in learning to drive and we used to hang out a lot at Shaun's place where they were all over the horses.

"When they started to show a bit of interest we bought a few ponies to get them going and they've been driving for five or six years.

"Other than for my own interest, I set up a bit of a stable for them to carry on, and if that is what they want to do they've got something to carry on with.

"The eldest has his stablehand licence now and can get his trial licence next year. He's pretty keen to take on a bit of driving."

Charlie Studleigh broke through for his first win at start seven.

He'd been knocking off the door of a breakthrough, placed in three of the starts including beaten being a short half head on Friday.

Ward was pleased with how the four-year-old had come through the run and thought things worked out perfectly on Tuesday.

"It was a good relief with that horse," she said.

"He's been going well and it's been a bit of an effort to get him there but he went well."

With Blake Jones at the helm, Charlie Studleigh sat just off the speed before going on to win by 8.9 metres.

Ward admitted it has taken the son of Mach Three some time to get it all together.

"He's got a funny action when he runs and it's taken a fair while to work him out," she said.

"He's starting to put it together.

"There is still a little bit of a skip and a jump when he runs but he's slowly working out what he has to do when he is out there."

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