Rapid Eagle proved Cody Morgan wrong at Muswellbrook on Monday.
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The Tamworth trainer had thought going into the meeting the four-year old - the first of two runners he had engaged - was "probably up against it" after drawing the 11 barrier.
But the Kiwi gelding defied the outside draw to power home by a length in the TAB.com.au Maiden Handicap (1200m), and notch his maiden win in his sixth start.
"The barrier I thought would pose a problem," Morgan said.
"To be able to win from the outside barrier was really pleasing."
Monday was Rapid Eagle's second start for Morgan since joining the stables from Michael Moroney at Flemington.
His first (start) back on March 3, and incidentally also at Muswellbrook, was a disaster.
"He came up from Melbourne, obviously they race in the opposite direction," Morgan recalled.
"He ran off the track.
"On the home corner he didn't take the corner and ended up on the outside fence. He was obviously so used to the Melbourne way."
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It is a bit of a wives tale that horses can struggle with the change in direction. Morgan has had a lot of horses come up from Melbourne but said he had "never had that issue until three weeks ago".
"We went back to the barrier trials. He trialled much better here 10 days ago," he said.
"We changed a bit of gear on him."
Under Morgan's care for about three months now, he believed the potential was there.
"He's always shown us more than he's been giving us," he said.
He thought he travelled well throughout the race. After jumping well jockey Mitchell Bell positioned him nicely up the front.
"He raced like that in Melbourne, up on the speed, and he seems to like being up the front," Morgan said.
Leading the field into the straight he then pulled away with about 200m to go, Rocketting To Win (Peter and Paul Snowden), the $2.25 favourite, taking second in a photo from Ringmahon (Peter Englebrecht).
Morgan is now towards Tamworth Cup Day for him.
His delight at Rapid Eagle's run however was tempered by Blazing Typhoon's 10th two races later.
He thought he was a good chance, but he "didn't do much at all".
"It's a bit of a head scratcher," he said.
