National News maintained his unbeaten record to take out the first heat of the MIA Breeders Plate at Leeton on Tuesday.
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Victorian father and daughter combination Craig and Abbey Turnbull were able to pull off a minor surprise with the well-backed two-year-old.
Taking advantage of barrier two, National News was able to dictate terms from the front.
Group one winner Mister Rea loomed down the back, but the former Kiwi pacer had far too much in reserve to claim a 3.3-metre victory.
Instead after winning his first seven races, including the Bathurst Gold Crown, Mister Rea has had to settle for a second and now a third with Lulu Mae beating him in the run to the line.
Abbey Turnbull was thrilled with his effort resuming.
"I had a bit of luck out there in front but he went super," Turnbull said.
"Especially around smaller tracks (draws) are a massive help.
"We had the better run out in front and were able to dictate."
National News proved he could do it tough on debut, sitting without cover to win at Maryborough on debut in September.
The Tatura combination elected to send him to the paddock and Turnbull believes he's taken plenty of benefit from it.
"He's really come on since his break, has really filled out and we're really happy with his first-up run," she said.
However the trip to Leeton was a last minute one with National News a late nomination for the group three series.
It's a call that's paid off for now.
"We were umming and ahhing a little bit just as he's still young and it was only his second start," Turnbull said.
"We thought we might stick to the bigger tracks just until he gets the hang of things but Dad has been happy enough with him at home so we thought we would give it a go.
"He handled it well."
Sugar Apple then smashed the two-year-old track record in the second heat for Inter Dominion-winning trainer Jason Grimson.
He clocked a mile rate of 1:55.6 as he led all the way to win by 14.6 metres.
His mile rate was more than three seconds faster than National News in the first heat.
It's a performance that should see him start favourite for the $30,000 feature on Boxing Day.
Both winners are owned by Leeton's Michael Boots.