The Patrick Payne-trained four-year-old gelding Widgee Turf staged a last to first performance in Saturday's Group III Victoria Handicap (1400m) at Caulfield.
From a wide draw, Billy Egan elected to drop the son of Turffontein to the rear of the field in the early stages and still saw the tails of all of his 15 rivals with 600 metres left to run.
Switched to the centre of the track to make his run, Widgee Turf came with a booming finish to overpower Turnitaround (Hard Spun) by three-quarters of a length with Ken's Dream (Dream Ahead) a head off in third. (photo Grant Courtney ).
"We knew we'd have to go back and that was the plan," Egan said.
"He switched off really well for me and I was just waiting to let him go once we straightened up.
"The stable is going really well and Paddy and I get on really well.
"It's great to win a feature race like this and great for the staff at the farm who do all the hard work, feeding and rugging them at night.
"That care comes through in the horses – they are all racing so well at the moment."
A bargain basement $4,5000 purchase by Crown Valley Lodge from the Little Plains Stud draft at the 2014 Inglis Great Southern Weanling Sale, Widgee Turf advances his record to 8 wins, 3 seconds and 1 third from 16 starts with earnings of $613,850.
He is the fifth and quite likely final foal of the Kala Dancer mare Greyhound who has not been covered in the last five years.
After finishing last at her one and only start, Greyhound did not start her breeding career until she was 11 years old.
Widgee Turf becomes the fourth stakes-winner for Blue Gum Farm's Turffontein.
