WODONGA trainer David O’Prey enjoyed a successful weekend after landing an interstate double with stablemates Providential and Pearl Fish.
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Providential made the trek to Bendigo on Friday worthwhile when he resumed from a 13-week spell to score with Darren Gauci aboard.
The five-year-old gelding defied a betting drift, easing to $13 from $7 after having never won first-up in four previous attempts.
“It wasn’t an over-strong race,” O’Prey said.
“He has had a few previous starts on the course and seems to relish the track.
“It was a promising start to his campaign.
“He has got a pretty consistent record and is always thereabouts.
“You know when you turn up you are nearly always going to get a cheque.
“I just wish I had few more in the stable like him.
“Darren got off him and said he thought a Friday night race at Moonee Valley or mid-week city class would be well within his scope.”
O’Prey completed the double when Pearl Fish also scored first-up at Albury on Saturday after a 21-week spell with Simon Miller aboard.
Pearl Fish ($5.50) brought up her first career win after two unplaced runs at Corowa and Wodonga earlier this year.
The three-year-old filly is raced by a syndicate including Wodonga Raiders premiership players Vin Glass, Andrew Nicholls, Stephen Clarke and triple Albury premiership star Glenn Page.
“She has been working super and how she would handle the wet track was a bit of a query,” he said.
“I was nearly going to scratch her but decided not to after I walked the track three times to make sure it was all right.
“Vin’s business Greener Grass also sponsored the race.
“He was strutting around after the race like he was the next Gerry Ryan.”
O’Prey said Pearl Fish was likely to have her next start at Corowa on December 29.