Faulkner has arrived back home after success with Onedin Highlander at Albion Park on Saturday night in taking out the Kevin and Kay Seymour Rising Stars Championship C5/C9 Final.

“I was real happy. Especially when a lot of luck goes your way,” Faulkner said.

After finishing third to The Charging Moa (Peter McMullen) in the first heat of the series conducted on the previous Tuesday, Onedin Highlander came out of the one barrier in the $14,999 final.

“I was tickled pink with his run in the heat – we were three back on the pegs and he sprinted home,” he said.

“When the field came out and I saw the draw for the final I thought we had a good chance.”

With the barrier pulled away and the field dispersed, Smiling Armada (T Whitaker) led the field with Onedin Highlander tucked in on the leaders back.

“I had a lot of horse under me and I thought if the leader could get us to the sprint lane I thought we had a chance,” Faulkner said.

His chance in the race came before the sprint lane when rounding the final turn the leader Smiling Armada drifted up the track.

“When the leader rolled out we took the chance,” he said.

“It was good money for a country assessment – the horse has been racing alright so we thought we would have a go at Albion Park”

“In his heat they went 1.55.5 and I thought he could go the same in the final.”

Faulkner was right on that fact as Onedin Highlander covered the 2138 metres with a mile rate of 1.55.6.

He has two runners engaged at Tamworth on Wednesday night with the first being Somebeach N Clovelly in the Sauer’s Glass Tamworth Owners Premiership Pace.

“He has drawn the seven barrier so we will see how we go – he got a tricky draw so we will need a lot of luck in running,” he said.

Monterei Bay will then shape up in the JJ’s Kebabs and Pizza Pace.

“He raced at Redcliffe last Thursday and ran second so I think he will back up for Tamworth - I think I can say I have had a good week already,” Faulkner added.