Trainer David O'Prey may have missed out on winning his second Wodonga Gold Cup.
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But the hometown trainer gained some consolation after This Skilled Cat claimed the feature sprint at Wodonga on Friday.
Ridden by jockey Nick Souquet, This Skilled Cat produced a barnstorming finish out wide on the track to score a thrilling win in the $35,000 Dot Dunstan Sprint, (1100m).
First-up since June, punters gave This Skilled Cat little hope of winning, starting as a 20/1 shot.
O'Prey narrowly missed the quinella after Tori Marguerite ran third after looking the likely winner 100m from home with Jamie Kah aboard.
Tori Marguerite is raced by a large sydicate of owners which includes dozens of Racing Wodonga members.
O'Prey said he was glad to land a winner on Wodonga's premier race day.
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This Skilled Cat was formerly trained by Craig Widdison and has won four of seven starts since joining the O'Prey stable.
"I was lucky enough to get this horse off Craig due to his unfortunate circumstances," O'Prey said.
"But he has been an absolute ripper for me.
"I said to the owners before the race, the leaders won't want to be labouring near the post because we will be charging late.
"And that's how the race panned out and it's a credit to the horse because he is so honest and such a professional."