There has been a bit of a gap between visits to Forbury Park for Steve Dolan, but Jennalee's victory last night was tinged with sadness.
The 4yr-old mare races in the colours of the late Grant Adamson, Dolan's main owner before he died of a brain aneurism in August last year.
What made the win even more poignant is that Jennalee is named after Adamson's two daughters, Jenna and Lee.
Dolan described Adamson as ''irreplaceable'' as he ungeared Jennalee at the stables last night.
''He was my biggest owner, so this is pretty special for his family for the horse to win in his colours,'' Dolan said.
''There'll be a lot of emotion attached to this win for them - he was a special man.''
Jennalee was a warm favourite last night, and scored courtesy of a typically patient drive by Dexter Dunn, who found himself in the running line before sending the mare for home to overcome Delightful Dash.
''She's always shown a little bit of ability and first up she went really good but she got kicked in the knee and she became hyper-sensitive around that area,'' Dolan said.
''She shouldn't really have been a maiden for as long as she was, but it wasn't really her fault.
''She should go on with it a wee bit. She's pretty well bred by Art Major and out of a nice mare [Blackbird Fly].''
Dolan's last win at Forbury Park was in June 2012 when Castellina Lover won a c2 pace.
''We don't often get down here but the track's outstanding now.''
Ali Malcolmson completed his first driving double in almost nine years when he reined home Feather Boyz and French Desire in the first two trots on the card last night.
Malcolmson last drove two winners on a card when he steered Heart Of Robyn and Roy Rockethead to wins at Waikouaiti in February 2005.
Despite starting off the unruly mark, Malcolmson showed all his wily skills to get Feather Boyz to the lead soon after the start, and the pair were never headed, winning by three lengths.
''He's just been waiting for the right run and he got it tonight,'' Malcolmson said.
Feather Boyz's trainer, Eian Lamb, has been patient with the 4yr-old although the gelding definitely doesn't have racing on his mind when he gets home.
''He's still really a big boy at heart - he just loves to get home and play with his good mate, Tommy [Wingham Well],'' Lamb said.
''He's a bit slow on the uptake, but he's getting there. I think he's not going to his best years until he's 5 or 6.''
You could excuse Wendy Stevenson for wondering if Caesar's best days were ever going to come at all.
But everything finally fell into place at Forbury Park last night at the 5yr-old's 32nd start in the maiden grade.
''It's been a hell of a long wait, hasn't it,'' Stevenson said.
''He's shown a lot of promise, but he's just had a couple of problems [pimples in the throat] which needed sorting out and draws haven't helped. Being a small horse, you've got to have a bit of luck as well.''
Dunn finished with four wins, as Belkmyster and Trade Me Now joined Jennalee and Caesar in the win column.
