Prepared by Andrew Robinson, the Reward For Effort gelding was having his 13th start and scored a strong victory in the 900m Mt Arthur Coal 4YO & Up Maiden.

Robinson said they had a few issues with the four-year-old.

"He's been a very frustrating horse," he explained.

"We had a few joint problems with him, but we sorted that out.

"We tossed his work around a little bit and it's good to see him break through today.

"I think it suited him better being ridden a bit off the speed today.

"At Scone last start he was first up and did need the run but to have him back here today on his home track, he likes Muswellbrook, so it was a very good result for everybody."

Gibbons said Win The Flag had improved since he rode him last preparation.

"I said to Andrew the last time I rode him, he accelerated around the corner but was a little bit weak late," he stated.

"He's given him a bit of time now and he's strengthened up.

"He's a much stronger horse.

"He's a high tempo rolling horse and can quicken off that.

"Ideally, I wouldn't want to be four deep again but there is one corner here and he was comfortable and in a rhythm, so I was better doing that than taking him out of his comfort zone and dragging him back."

Win The Flag ($10), who posted a two and half length victory, beat The Sprooker ($3.90) trained by Jason Clisby, with another Muswellbrook-trained galloper, Dubai Harbour ($4.60) prepared by Peter Clare, third.

***

APPRENTICE Kate Cowan didn't waste time bringing up her first winner at Muswellbrook, booting home the Cody Morgan-trained Steamboat Sally to victory in the 1300m Two Rivers Wines Class 1.

Cowan, a Group 1 winner in New Zealand, became indentured to Kody Nestor in late August and has already ridden four victories.

She put on a great front running ride on Steamboat Sally to score a narrow triumph, at her first appearance at the track.

"It's my first time here so it's great to get a winner," Cowan said.

"I honestly didn't think I'd won so it was good to get back and realise I had.

"Cody told me just to bowl along in front, cuddle her up a little bit and she'd do the rest.

"That's how it worked out."

The Lees-trained $3.50 favourite Mr Piquet headed Steamboat Sally ($4.60) around the 150m mark, but the Snitzel mare managed to kick back and score a narrow win.

Morgan had been confident going into the race and now plans to take the four-year-old to a Highway in Sydney.

"I think there might be a Highway in her particularly with the firmer tracks if we can fend off the breeding barn," he said.

"She doesn't have a great turn of foot, but Kate rode her terrific today, rating her well in front.

"She rode one for me at Scone the other day and I told her I'd put her on a faster one," he laughed.

"It's worked out great."

The Damien Lane-trained Magnalane ($12) was third.

***

A DROP back in grade proved the key to the Wayne Seelin-trained Weston ($8) who brought up his third career win in the Saxon Warrior New For 2019 @ Coolmore Benchmark 58 over 1770m.

The six-year-old gelding finished last at his previous outing at Wyong in a Benchmark 64 but Seelin said he had been confident coming to Muswellbrook with a significant drop in class.

"There's a fair bit of difference in the two races so I was reasonably confident he could get the job done," he explained.

"He's not the easiest horse to ride and goes hard.

"I was a bit worried when he rolled to the front but everything behind seemed to be off the bit.

"He got his own way in front a bit and that certainly helped."

Winning rider Grant Buckley said he had a taken a "catch me if you can" approach.

"I was going to go back but the pace was too slow, so I took him forward and he got into a nice rhythm," he stated.

"He gave a nice kick at the cutaway and was strong enough to keep going and post a nice win.

"He's been a bit unlucky in a few of his starts, so it's good to get another win."

Weston won by almost three lengths, with two fellow Wyong runners, the Ben Hill-trained Sunday Swindler ($9) and Jeff Englebrecht's Villarrica ($7.50) filling the minor placings.

***

APPRENTICE Louise Day continued her good association with the David Atkins stable, posting a strong win on Hildalgo ($2.35) in the 1000m TAB.COM.AU Class 2.

Day has won on her last three rides for the Atkins stable and has a good opinion of the former South Australian galloper who was resuming from a spell.

"He wandered around all over the place in the straight, so I think there is still plenty of improvement to come," she said.

"He stepped away a tad slow today but still got to the front quite easy.

"I couldn't get him to the rail, but he still gave a really good kick."

Lara Scorse, representing the Atkins stable, said Hildalgo was a "pretty smart horse".

"He was coming off a long break today and it was a really good win," she added.

"Dave's doing a great job with him and it's a good stable to be in."

The Akeed Mofeed gelding was sent out favourite on the strength of an impressive Newcastle trial on August 19 with Nash Rawiller in the saddle.

The fast-finishing Star Raider ($4.20) from the Lees stable was almost a length behind in second, followed by the Allan Denham-trained Cunningar Lass ($12).