Midnight City ($6) ridden by Peter Robl prevailed in a driving finish to win by a neck from Sir Fussalot ($14), which made a gallant attempt to lead all the way, and the Narooma Cup winner Step Forward ($6) a long neck away third.

Colbey, 25, has held her trainer’s licence for only about nine months after working in the stables at Moruya for several years for a number of trainers including Brian Heffernan, Wayne Davey and John Marzol.

Midnight City, a six-year-old gelding by Lion Hunter, also gave Colbey her first win as a trainer when it scored in Sydney earlier this year.

Robl ensured Midnight City stayed out of trouble in the 1930m Moruya Cup, giving him the run of the race behind Sir Fussalot.

Most of Colbey’s horses are owned by Vision Bloodstock headed by Tim Magnus, who is also her partner.

Magnus had purchased Midnight City in the Moruya Cup Calcutta held at the Moruya Waterfront Hotel on Sunday night.

“Colbey deserved her chance to train. There is no better horse person around,” Magnus said after the race.

“The horse also deserved it because he has had no luck lately. I am rapt for Colbey and the horse.”

The win also completed a winning double for Robl, who will soon move to Sydney.

Chris Hensler and Wayne Davey were the other Moruya trainers to enjoy wins on their home track.

Hensler scored with Blow Up The Pokies ($11) which led all the way to win the South Coast Beverages - Cadbury Schweppes Rating 71 handicap over 1425 metres.

The horse downed favourite Roly Dancer ($3.80) by a length-and-a-quarter with another local horse, Guarded Prince ($5) third.

Davey took out the first race, the Kentucky Equine Research maiden handicap over 1010 metres, with Flat Strap ($3,80) which downed the odd-on favourite Hyson Green ($1.50) by a half head.

The six-year-old Ledger ($3), trained by Terry Robinson at Berry, showed the value of all his previous runs in Sydney when he streaked away to take out the Moruya Waterfront Hotel Moruya Town Plate over 1200 metres from Phantom Tenor ($3.50) with Sorbeaux ($17) two lengths away third.

Wing Forward ($5) won his second race from only two starts in the Moruya Golf Club Rating 64 handicap over 1010 metres.

Wing Forward, also ridden by Robl, fought on too strongly for the locally trained favourite Moorings Brumby ($2.70) with Van Straalen ($6.50) third.

Jockey Richard Bensley also completed a winning double on Blow Up The Pokies and Black Cougar ($15) which took out the Eurobodalla Printing maiden handicap over 1425 metres for Canberra trainer Barbara Joseph.

The Far South Coast racing action now shifts to the Sapphire Coast for the rich Bega Cup meeting on Sunday, February 3. It is the $25,000 Bega Cup over 2200m, a $15,000 open handicap over 1600m and the $12,000 Bega Town Plate over 1200m.

Moruya’s next race meeting is the Saturday morning TAB fixture on February 16, when the first race will start at 11am.