The Armidale gelding surged to victory in the $20,000 Shay Brennan Constructions Benchmark 65 Handicap (2100m) to notch a fourth career win for his tablelands stable.

It was his first win for Blanch, who took over his preparation from fellow Armidale trainer Robert Knight earlier this year.

“He hurt himself when Robert had him and they gave him to me,” Justin Blanch said. He’s taken a while to get going. He hurt his hock pretty bad, had to operate.”

Blanch thinks he is more than likely to return to Tamworth next month for a similar race.

Try ‘N’ Run A Muck then tried his heart out again, fighting back late to claim the $20,000 Class 2 Handicap (1400m).

The Troy O’Neile-trained gelding looked like he might run another second when headed by the Sue Grills-trained Cool Prince halfway down the straight. However Melissa Brown’s strong riding helped the four-year-old gelding son of Pure Theatre respond and kick back to notch a win – by a nose.

It was his third win in a 15 start career that has also yielded seven placings.

“He’s a real good, gutsy horse,” O’Neile said.

He is the first horse O’Neile has trained for owners in his short career. 

Tamworth’s Dave Bastable races him with his wife’s cousin, Gary Edwards, and Somerton farmer Robert Colley.

“We bought the dam Gossip Maid at a Scone broodmare sale in 2012 and he is her first foal to race.”