Good one Wilson!

POPULAR horseman Damian Wilson registered a personal milestone last night.

No stranger to enjoying Group One glory as a reinsman, Wilson notched his maiden top shelf success as a trainer when Pastor Dunbar captured the New South Wales Trotters’ Derby at Club Menangle.

Wilson also drove the three-year-old for breeder-owner Kevin McCluskey.

“What a huge thrill,” Wilson said. “I’ve won a handful of Group Ones as a driver, but to do it as a trainer as well is something else.

“Knowing the work you’ve put into the horse behind the scene and then coming out and getting a result like this is very satisfying.

“A huge thanks to Kevin for trusting me his little star and my wife, Laura, for all her hard work and support.”

Caught wide from barrier four, Pastor Dunbar was eased towards the tail of the field as Superior Stride led the field in ‘Indian file’.

A clear last at the 500-metre mark, Pastor Dunbar unleashed a sustained sprint to reach the front in the last stride, scoring by a half-neck from Munny The Monster.

In a ‘blanket’ finish, What The Tooth was a head away third,

“I gave him a good chance of figuring in the money before the race, I just wasn’t sure where he’d be in the run,” Wilson said. “As it turned out, he ended up at the back of the field, but got a clear shot at them anyway.

“He felt huge leaving the back straight and just never stopped trying all the way home.”

Rating 1:57.6 over 2300 metres, Pastor Dunbar took his record to four wins and a second from five starts for earnings of $56,695.

“He should be unbeaten,” Wilson said. “He got checked and broke at his third start and was only beaten a couple of metres.

“I was very pleased with his run last night and will give him an easy week now.

“At this stage I’ll be setting him for the Victoria Trotters’ Derby and Vicbred and that’ll be it for the year, but if he happens to get into The Great Square in Queensland in December, I’ll aim for that as well.”