Young trainers always need a smart horse to get them going and Cranbourne-based Nathan McPherson might have found one in the form of Sandown winner Eurack.
McPherson spent more than two years away from racing before resuming training last spring but produced Eurack for a debut win at Bendigo on July 7.
Eurack was a 3-1/2 length winner in heavy ground on debut but easily handled the transition to city racing with an equally dominant 4-1/4 length win in the Comcater Handicap (1000m).
Jockey Ben Melham parked Eurack ($5 fav) behind the speed to the home turn before the daughter of Oneworld ended the $35,000 race as a contest with smart acceleration at the 400 metre mark, drawing away to score easily.
The Frankie Stockdale-trained Eminent Son ($12) was second ahead the $6.50 chance Accelerato, who was also a maiden winner at the Bendigo meeting.
Eurack completed a double for McPherson after Hunting Hill ($9) claimed the Hamilton Reid Chartered Accountants Handicap (1300m), also with Melham aboard.
McPherson told Racing Victoria he was chatting about the possibility of a maiden city double on Tuesday evening.
"Like I said last night when I was talking to a few of the boys around the fire at the stables when we were finishing up, I've had some big moments in my life good and bad, but this could be the biggest hour in my life," McPherson said.
"All the boys, my girlfriend, everyone's here today and for Ben (Melham) to be on both of those horses, I couldn't have asked for a better script to be written."
Hunting Hill defeated the Colin Scott-trained Recalculate ($10) by three-quarters of a length while the $3.50 favourite Pakaya Prince boxed on fairly well to hold third after leading.
