Wins have been few and far between for Alison Smith this year but the Orange trainer is hopeful success at Wellington on Monday can kick-start things for her stables.
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Smith took out the day's opening event, the Lloyd's Services Maiden Plate (900m), as Ateall proved punters wrong.
The four-year-old gelding was as short as $2.40 early in the day but when he jumped from gate nine with Andrew Banks in the saddle he was on the fourth line of betting at $7.
But that didn't matter to Ateall as he got to the lead early and then fought on in the straight to hold off Geesheehan ($31) while Dashing Badger ($81) was third in a juicy trifecta for anyone who found it.
"I tell you what, it's been a pretty dry spell," Smith told Sky Thoroughbred Central post-race, having won just once in the past six months.
"It's been awhile but it was good to see him cross the line first and hopefully the stable can maybe get a few more."
Ateall was second-up on Monday, having returned from a six-month spell with an eighth-placed run on a heavy Narromine track last month.
Smith had expected more of the gelding that day but having impressed in his work since she made the trip to Wellington in an optimistic mood.
And while the punters abandoned Ateall in the lead-up to the jump, he showed plenty of determination in the straight to score a first win in career start number 10.
All the late love was for the new addition to the Kody Nestor stables, Mayfield Miss, who jumped a $2.60 favourite while the Mark Milton-trained Mighty Minnie was a $4 chance after a handy trial win in July.
But they never really got into the race as the on-pace runners set the tempo and stayed at the front.
Smith was also delighted for win for Ateall's supportive owners, Margaret and Neil Johnson.
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