The Dubbo-trained Malibu Stacy, named after a doll from The Simpsons, was too strong for a talented field in the second race at Orange over 1600 metres.

But local trainer Michael Plummer had plenty to smile about after his new stayer Royal Abbey was a strong second.

“It was a strong little race and I’m really really happy with how it went.

“He got a nice run in the race. it settled well, there was a fair bit of pace on early,” he said.

“It was his first run for 4 or 5 weeks. He did well to hit the front as well. The winner was a pretty smart horse and it won pretty easily.”

Plummer, who has plans to run Royal Abbey in the Bathurst and Orange cups, said his next start would be in a class 1 event.

“He’ll go back to a Class 1. I’m not sure where, he may be doing Hawkesbury in a class 1 in a fortnight.

“We’ll look at how we come out this race today and look around over the next couple of days.”

Fellow Orange trainer Lee Van Den Bos had four runners including Cat Walk Queen who finished eighth in her first race.

“It’s only her second time on the grass,” she said.

“She’s a nice height. We’ll just see how it goes.”

“We’ve only been working her over 1000m. Young Mick (Travers) who is riding her feels she’ll get 1300-1400.”

Van Den Bos, who has been training for more than 10 years, said it was good to see her home track in top condition.

“This is one of the few tracks in the Central West that horses can win from everywhere. A lot of the Central West tracks are for front runners,” she said.