Bruno Cannatelli
Julius Sandhu could not have wished for a better start to his training career.
Holding his licence for about eight months and with four horses in work, Sandhu has produced three winners from just 16 starters, his latest coming with Princeton Spirit in Saturday's Silver Thomas Hanley Plate (1200m) at Moonee Valley.
The win was Sandhu's second of the week after Swiss Moments scored at Sandown.
Princeton Spirit is getting together a handy record, winning five of his seven starts, the first three for fellow Cranbourne trainer Mick Kent.
Sandhu part-owns the gelding and worked as a foreman for Kent before taking out his licence.
"We work hard and we've got some good horses," Sandhu said.
"I'm really fortunate to have worked with Mick and I learnt so much from him."
"He's always there for me to pick his brain with a few bits and pieces and I'm fortunate to have a great crew around me."
Ridden by Beau Mertens, Princeton Spirit ($5) scored a three-quarter-length win from Lord Barrington ($26), with Terindah ($12) a long-head away third.
Sandhu said he was confident Princeton Spirit could overturn a last-start fourth at Moonee Valley.
"We were a bit disappointed last time as he got to the wrong part of the track," Sandhu said.
"But he still ran on and I was quietly confident if he got the right run he'd be hard to beat and he did work super on Tuesday."
Both Princeton Spirit and Lord Barrington were sold through the New Zealand Bloodstock auction ring from the draft of Little Avondale Stud. The former was purchased as a weanling by agent Phil Cataldo for $10,000, while Lord Barrington was selected by Paul Moroney for $140,000 as a yearling. -AAP