Racing: Zabisco continues winning ways in Victoria

She never thought she would have had such a successful start to her riding career, says Ashley Frye. Photo / Thinkstock

Melbourne's premier jockey Luke Nolen has returned to the country for a big day out, claiming three races including the feature on Wodonga Cup day.

Originally from Manangatang in northwestern Victoria, Nolen has reached dizzy heights as a group one jockey and as the regular partner of champion Black Caviar.

He steered the Mike Moroney-trained Zabisco to a three-quarter length win over Another Prelate in the A$80,000 ($101,500) Cup (1590m) on Sunday and predicted better things for the 5-year-old son of Zabeel.

"He eats up a mile," Nolen said.

"He will be winning more than a Wodonga Cup. To win big feature races in small country towns means a lot to everyone."

Two of Zabisco's owners, Andrew Lane and Ian Wales, come from the area and were on hand for the win before leaving to continue the celebrations at nearby Myrtleford.

"We own a few horses," Dale said.

"We wanted a son of Zabeel and hope one day he'll be worth something."

Zabisco was group two placed at his open-company debut in the 2011 Coupland's Mile at Riccarton in New Zealand before joining Moroney's Melbourne stable and scored a Caulfield 1400m win earlier this year. All-up he had nine starts in his homeland for three wins, four seconds and two thirds.

First-up this preparation he had no luck after blowing the start in a 1400m race at Flemington on Melbourne Cup Day. Although Zabeel is renowned as a sire of stayers, Zabisco has yet to be tested over more than 1600m in his 17-start career.

Nolen won the opening race on the Wodonga programme aboard the Peter Moody-trained Quick Snitzel and gave leading local trainer Brian Cox the first leg of a winning treble aboard Toolangi in the fourth race.

It was the second Wodonga Cup for the Nolen-Moroney combination with the pair teaming up in 2009 with Syndrome.

- AAP