The triumph took Barr Hill’s record to three victories from as many starts, following on from success at Muswellbrook and Newcastle.

Barr Hill won the 900m Class Three at Gunnedah in a record 50.64 seconds, running home the last 600m in a slick 33.21 seconds.  

However, her Muswellbrook-based mentor Andrew Robinson now faces a dilemma in finding suitable short course races for her.

“There is nothing local until Scone in five weeks which is too long a gap, but they run 900m races at the Gold Coast nearly every week,” he said.

“The prizemoney at the Gold Coast for a normal Saturday meeting is not as good as down here but you have to be prepared to take your horses where there are suitable races they can win.

“She is a short course horse, so they are the races we have to target, wherever they might be.”

Robinson, one of Muswellbrook’s newer trainers, has only had his licence for 16 months after serving his “apprenticeship” with his father John followed by stints with Graeme Rogerson, John Hawkes, Sue Grills and the last three-and-a-half years as a foreman with Greg Bennett. 

He has already led in seven winners from only a small stable and Barr Hill's victory at Newcastle gave him his first provincial success.

Barr Hill and Mac’s Reward, both by the Victorian-based stallion Reward For Effort, are the two stars of the stable. 

Mac’s Reward, a winner at Muswellbrook four starts back, may also go north along with Robinson’s Animal Kingdom three-year-old, Lord Whiskey.

Lord Whiskey ran an encouraging sixth in a 1200m maiden at Gunnedah at his first run from a freshen up.

“He is going to develop into a stayer and there is a nice maiden over more ground at the Gold Coast for him,” Robinson said.

Robinson also has three unraced two-year-olds by Reward For Effort (by Exceed And Excel) courtesy of well-known Victorian breeder and owner, Eamon McNulty.

“My family leases Barr Hill from Eamon but he has so much faith in her he retained a share,” he said.

“Eamon and I have become good friends and he sent me the three two-year-olds which I am now syndicating.

“All three have shown a lot of promise and I am really excited about them.”