Glen Colless celebrated a triumphant homecoming when he won Thursday’s Coffs Harbour Cup aboard the Alan Bailey-trained Brave The Way.
In doing so he broke a 20-year drought with his last win in the 1600m country feature coming aboard Sabre Luck in 1991.
Colless, who grew up in Coffs Harbour where he began his apprenticeship in 1982, also teamed up with Bailey for a successful hit-and-run raid at Canterbury on Wednesday when they combined to win the second race with God Bless Us.
“It might not be the biggest race in the world but it means a lot to me,” Colless told Sky Racing.
“It’s great to come back and win it and it’s extra special to do it with Alan.”
Colless only returned to the saddle on Saturday after missing the tail end of last season following a fall on July 6 which left him with vertigo.
But he wasted no time showcasing his skills, settling Brave The Way ($4.20) worse than midfield before bringing him down the outside to claim favourite Southern Shimmer ($3.60) by a half-length with Gazza Guru ($6) a length away third.
Colless will be out to continue his winning form at Doomben on Saturday when his mounts include the Bailey-trained Frozone and Work The Room, a half-brother to Zipping.
AAP TURF
