After six years out of the training ranks, Craig Conron made a triumphant return to the winner’s circle at Ballarat late last month.
Racing the well-supported Winning Toast ($1.75 into $1.50) with John Allen in the saddle, the 3YO powered to a five-length victory in the 1500m Maiden Plate.
A $460,000 Magic Millions purchase at the 2023 Gold Coast Yearling Sale, Conron picked up the three-start maiden for $35,000 via Inglis Digital back in January.
First-up at Bendigo, Winning Toast went down by a lip, finishing second to the Scott Cameron-trained Proven Soul in a 1300m Maiden Plate at Bendigo on May 6.
Having earned $20,000 in two starts with Winning Toast, Conron, who used Geelong as his base for more than 20 years, and now trains at Ballarat, will look to make it back-to-back wins with the I Am Invincible gelding on his home track on Friday.
Taking on the 1500m Benchmark 70 Handicap, Winning Toast has drawn awkwardly with gate 11 but has the services of Teo Nugent and has been installed as the $2.80 favourite.
It’s a big step up from maiden company but the Ballarat galloper was impressive last time out on the synthetic, giving punters hope of a repeat performance.
It’s set to be a good eight-race program at Ballarat, with the first race jumping at 1pm.
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Ballarat tips – June 13
Race 1: #11 Night Flash
Race 2: #11 Mercurial Lady
Race 3: #12 Tell Us Toll
Race 4: #11 Mrs Harris
Race 5: #3 Radstar
Race 6: # Winning Toast
Race 7: #4 Eugenius
Race 8: #7 Omaha Dawn
Track conditions
Rail Position: True Entire Circuit
Dual Track Meeting: N
Track Type: Synthetic
Track Condition: Synthetic
Weather: Overcast
