Needing one more provincial winner to take her tally to 80 victories, the leading apprentice wasted no time reaching the mark by claiming the opening event on the card for trainers Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott.

King, who is currently more than six wins clear in the Kembla apprentices premiership, led from barrier to boxes to take out the Cabbage Three Hotel Metro & Provincial Maiden Plate (1200m).  Ron Quinton’s Dream I Can was a half-head away in second with John Thompson’s Special Missile in third.

El Venetian hadn’t saluted in six previous starts, but King felt the success would help the three-year-old get on with the job.

“Now he has had that confidence building win he should go on with it,” she said.

“I was happy with the way he dug deep. He gave right to the line.”