Trainer's first win in two decades!

VETERAN horseman David Wills broke a 20-year drought from the winners' circle yesterday.

Wills prepared Santa Casa Beach to score in Horsham in what was the gelding's first run since December 2021!

For Wills, it was his first success since Paradeon scored in Mildura on March 9, 2005.

"I am absolutely rapt," Wills said. "It would be one of my most satisfying victories given the amount of hard work which has gone into him.

"Tom Rivett, who bred him, said 'come and have a look at a couple in a paddock if you want to have a go with them', so I went and had a look.

"He had a hairy coat, was fat as mud and looked like a Clydesdale, but I felt he stood out and took him home.

"I would get up early in the morning and work him in the dark before work, then started to increase his load.

"Slowly but surely, he got fitter with a whole lot of conditioning work and I put him in the cart after about nine months.

"I said from the start it was a case of do it properly or don't bother...all or nothing was my only plan with him, and so far, it has worked out nicely."

With Lochie Cook holding the reins, Santa Casa Beach led throughout from barrier six to score from Young Bluey and Hes All Torque in 1:56.1 over 1700 metres.

"Everything he's done, he has done under his own steam and just come along as he wanted," Wills said. "I wasn't going to race him in Horsham, but the nominations were extended, so I put him in, and the rest is history.

"He has pulled up great from the run, will be fitter for it, and will go around again when I find the right race."