Bill Prain has been in the racing game for longer than most, but the veteran trainer admits he is still learning from tricky five-year-old Seasonal.
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The Warwick Farm based horseman has been forced to take a slow approach with his son of of Irish sire Valixir, but has been rewarded for his patience with some success.
Seasonal saluted for Prain at Kembla Grange on Saturday under the urging of top provincial jockey Jeff Penza.
"We learn together," Prain said of Seasonal after the win.
"He teaches me something every week.
"He half wants to hang in all the time and Jeff [Penza} rode him today. It was good."
Seasonal held on in a desperately tight finish.
Penza had Prain’s $4.60 TAB fixed odds chance mid-field and gave the lightly-raced gelding an easy time in transit.
When the race opened up at the top of the straight, he was poised to strike.
Seasonal hit the front with less than a furlong remaining before holding on to beat Jason Coyle's fast-finishing Charming Lad ($4.40) by a short head. Jarrod's Austin's Hirokin ($4.60) was a further half a length back in third.
"He is a good tough little horse," Prain said.
"I have always had a little bit of an opinion of the horse but he is not over big.
"I just have to nurse him a bit and that's why his races are spaced out a bit.
"He tries hard and hopefully he can win a race in town."
The victory was Seasonal’s third from 11 career starts.
Seasonal had finished well back in sixth at Wyong last start but completed a stellar turnaround with a gritty win at Kembla.
"I couldn't work out what happened to him at Wyong," Prain said.
"He should have won at Hawkesbury when he ran third.
"I think that was only his second run in about 12 months."
We learn together. He teaches me something every week.
- Bill Prain
Prain, who only has a small team for around 20 horses, only had the one runner on the afternoon but was able to drive back to Sydney with a perfect record. Fellow Warwick Farm trainer Scott Aspery also trained a winner with Caribou.