As short-priced favourite Malkovich stormed to the front with 200 metres to run, the trainer turned his focus to his other runner in the race, Our Bellagio Miss.

But then Eleven Eleven's jockey Tyler Schiller found clear air and the gelding slowly started reeling the leader in.

Read more: The Big Read: $1 million The Gong climax to stunning spring for Kembla Grange trainers

It was only as they crossed the finish line that Hickman realised his horse had claimed the first running of the $300,000 The Warra.

Malkovich finished second, with Wisdom Of Water third.

"I couldn't find him in the run," Hickman said. "He was back and I just thought the leader was up and gone. I didn't think that (the win) would happen.

"I was trying to watch the other filly (Our Bellagio Miss). I thought she was going to come home a bit better than she did."

Eleven Eleven will now head to Sydney before a trip to the Gold Coast for the Magic Millions, a carnival he's won at the past two years.

Should he triumph in Queensland, it will mark a lucrative summer for the horse and Hickman was pleased to support a new big-cash race at Kembla Grange.

"It means a lot for the people of Wollongong and the club. I love winning any races anywhere, bringing people here to have a city meeting and big raceday to Newcastle and Kembla Grange is a great thing."

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