Vegas Jack returns Craig Conron to Flemington winner's circle

Trainer Craig Conron, who not long ago contemplated a permanent absence from Flemington, was warmly welcomed back to the winner's stall on Saturday.

The Geelong horseman's return was marked by Vegas Jack's continued winning form in the $150,000 Country Racing It's Got It All Trophy over 2540 metres.

This was Conron's first win at Flemington since Distant Melody's Black Type success during the 2007 Melbourne Cup Carnival. The 62-year-old expressed his joy at the occasion.

"It's great to be back here and it's great to be having a winner here," he said. "I get a kick anytime they win, but when it's a Saturday at Flemington it's a much bigger kick."

Vegas Jack, a $9.50 chance ridden by Dean Yendall, crossed the line 1-1/4 lengths ahead of The Western Front ($5.50), with Bold Soul ($7) a further half-length back in third.

Conron has had limited opportunities to race at Flemington over the past couple of seasons, having taken a six-year break from training, with brief periods spent in Tasmania and the Northern Territory.

During this time away, he assisted his daughter in operating her mobile coffee van business.

Conron acquired Vegas Jack for just $13,000 via an online purchase in January of the previous year. The gelding had failed to place in two prior starts for Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman.

The So You Think gelding won on its debut for Conron and has since added five more victories, achieving four consecutive wins leading up to this event.

This Flemington victory followed a benchmark 66 win at Swan Hill during its carnival. Conron is visibly thrilled with the four-year-old's current trajectory.

"I still think he's six or 12 months off doing what he's going to do, so what we're getting now, I know it sounds silly, is a bonus," Conron said.

Conron was not the only trainer to break a long Flemington drought on Saturday, as Alex Rae also secured his second winner at the venue.

The up-and-coming Cranbourne trainer presented I'mateez, a half-brother to Imperatriz, to win the $150,000 Rod Johnson 3YO Handicap (1100m).

This marked Rae's first Flemington success since his successful introduction on Oaks Day in 2018 when Cochada won the Country Final.

"I trained my first winner here with my first runner in 2018 and it's been eight years between drinks," Rae commented. "Everywhere else been pretty fruitful, so this is a great result."

I'mateez, a gelding by Capitalist who started at $9, finished 1-3/4 lengths in front of La Astro Chat ($16), with Prestar ($4.20) a neck behind in third.

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