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Ken Casellas | Photo: Hamilton Content Creators

There was a remarkable symmetry when outstanding reinsman Dylan Egerton-Green went on to the track at Gloucester Park on Friday night to contest races six, seven and eight. He proceeded to give another example of his skill when he drove career wins Nos. 766, 767 and 768.

In the space of sixty minutes Egerton-Green was successful with $19.90 chance Double Up, Ideal Agent ($2.30) and Illawong Mustang ($50.90). A $10 up-the-lot investment on the fixed market odds of $26, $2.35 and $41 would have returned $25,051.

The highlight for the 29-year-old Egerton-Green was winning the Group 2 $50,000 Easter Cup with Ideal Agent, but probably the most satisfying result was bringing home Illawong Mustang with a powerful burst from last to get up and in the final couple of strides to defeat Blissfullabbey in the 2536m Garrard’s Online www.horseandhound.com.au Pace.

Egerton-Green prepares the five-year-old Illawong Mustang, who ended a ten-month drought and broke a losing sequence of 20. This win was Egerton-Green’s 118TH as a trainer.

Illawong Mustang was overlooked by most punters because he had drawn the outside barrier (No. 8) on the front line. Egerton-Green wisely decided not to bustle Illawong Mustang at the start and the gelding settled down in last position in the field of ten while $11 chance The Last Drop was setting a brisk pace.

The race changed complexion many times in the final circuit, with The Kraken ($17) getting to the front 600m from home, Batavia On Fire ($31) taking the lead 170m later and Blissfullabbey ($6) taking charge on the home turn.

Blissfullabbey was ninth at the bell before Aiden de Campo sent her forward with a smart three-wide burst. Egerton-Green followed the run of Blissfullabbey, and after going four wide on the home turn, he got the upper hand in the final couple of bounds.

“Tonight, from the outside barrier I decided to go back and drive for luck,” said Egerton-Green. “And when they went a bit silly, I was quite confident Illawong Mustang would run a good race.”

Egerton-Green said that Illawong Mustang had been racing well but had been plagued by bad barriers in his current preparation, apart from his first run after a spell when he drew barrier two and finished second to Rock Me Over.

“I got the horse from David and Karen Thompson eleven months ago because he didn’t like the Byford training complex where there were too many horses for his liking,” he said. “He got a bit naughty and got pulling a bit and getting a bit keen.

“I’ve changed his training which has made him more tractable. He doesn’t go to the track; he just gallops on the sand on the lead. And he swims in the dam every day. So, he doesn’t leave the property much, only to go to the trots. He is happy in the paddock every day, with his mates.”

The Victorian-bred Illawong Mustang has raced 49 times for nine wins, 12 placings and $69,112 in stakes. He won at seven of his 25 Victorian starts.

Illawong Mustang is by Mach Three and is the first foal out of the Artiscape mare Light In Every Day, who had 72 starts in Victoria, South Australia, Canberra and New South Wales for 11 wins, 32 placings and $129,255.