Collinge won from the 9.25m mark in a career-best time of 12.287 ahead of Douglas Greenough (12.377) and Matthew Callard (12.381), pocketing $4800 in the biggest win of his career.

Nigerian back-marker Bola Lawal, the fastest man in Australia last year, could only manage fifth in his bid for a second gift.

Collinge, normally a 400m specialist, only recently shifted his attention to the shorter sprints after recording impressive times over 100m at training.

“My handicap is getting better this year and I’ve been focusing more on my speed work so I thought the time was right to have a bit of a crack at it,” Collinge said.

But the Canberra runner, who lived in Albury for 18 years, was still shocked when he was first to cross the line.

“I didn’t think I was running quite that fast so I was surprised,” Collinge said.

“It might have been the good weather and state of the track, but I would say the final was probably the best sprint I’ve done.

“There were some great competitors out there but in the final I think I got off to the best start of my career.

“I just felt great out of the blocks and as the race went on I was feeling really good.”

It was Collinge’s first Burramine Gift final after three attempts at the race, and follows a finals appearance at the famous $6000 Black Opal at Bendigo, the richest 400m race in Australia.

Despite the Black Opal’s reputation, Collinge rates the Burramine Gift as the best event of the year.

“It’s developed a lot of prestige in my mind,” Collinge said.

“The field is always very strong and prizemoney is good, but the main thing is probably the quality facilities and the people.

“It always seems to be a terrific, relaxed atmosphere.”

Collinge is coached by former Olympic hurdler Matt Bechenham in Canberra and is a former pupil of Albury coach Adrian Fury, a former Burramine Gift winner himself.