Anstice’s first victory came aboard the Craig Stott-trained Chief Rang ($3.90) who held off pre-race favourite Be Mine ($2.50) in the King Of The Bush 0-68 Hcp (1300m).

Wayne Nichols-trained Military Way set a strong pace out front, allowing Anstice settle Chief Rank at the tail of the field before striding past them all down the straight.

“(Stott) is absolute gentleman of a bloke, I’ve ridden for him for a long time ... and it was great get a winner up for him,” Anstice said.

“It was a handy sort of race ... somewhere down the track I’d say there’s a race for him down in Melbourne, probably not on a Saturday but in a mid-weeker for sure.”

Anstice brought up his double in the final race, a $7000 Rating 58 Hcp (1300m) aboard inexperienced four-year-old Ready Zuca, trained at Wangaratta by Gary Aldridge.

— MATT CRAM