The rain came, but a wet Wingatui day did not bother Stephen Washington one bit.
The Invercargill horseman recorded his first win as a trainer when Dame La Jane won in emphatic style by 4 lengths in a 2200m maiden at the Riverton Racing Club's meeting at Wingatui yesterday.
Washington has just three horses in work, and the 6yr-old Danzighill mare links back to his previous employment in the racing industry.
Washington only took out a training licence earlier this season after working under another Invercargill trainer.
''I'd been working for Peter Smellie for the last few years, and I'm just really keen on being a trainer, so here I am,'' Washington said.
Dame La Jane was bred by Smellie, who trained and raced the mare for her first four starts before handing her over to Washington.
The firm tracks have not quite been to Dame La Jane's liking, yet she still showed enough tenacity to run second at Riverton in early February.
However, Washington knew the softer surface after morning rain, and a jump up from 1600m, would suit.
''I've just been waiting for her to step over ground, and she likes the cut out of the track and has been running on well,'' he said.
And run on she did, as jockey Rebecca Black sent her to the lead and she bolted away by 4 lengths.
Washington has no immediate plans for the first foal of Festal mare Hey Good Lookin, which he races with his mother, Christine Stewart.
''We'll just see how she pulls up and we'll go from there.''
