Top jockey Tim Clark returned home to the region a winner, guiding Publicist ($2.80) to victory in the $80,000 JRC Electrical Services MTC Guineas 3YO Benchmark 74 Handicap (1600m).

Publicist, who had not raced in two months, looked under siege when Manderboss ($5.50) loomed alongside him halfway down the straight.

But in typical Waterhouse fashion, the three-year-old dug deep and kicked strongly to register a fighting win.

"He's been going really good that horse, just hasn't had the conditions. He's been scratched a lot of times. He was eight weeks between runs so he did a really good job," Clark said.

"He showed plenty of ticker and fought on really strongly so he's really matured. It's taken a long time but he's starting to slowly mature into a nice horse now."

Clark was also happy to return to the Southern District and grab a win at the Wagga carnival.

"Definitely. It's always good to get back here, and to get a winner or two is a bonus," he said.

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