That’s my first Group One…I couldn’t be happier

QUEENSLAND’S Grant Dixon isn’t the only horseman to register a personal milestone tonight.

Thanks to his victory behind Colt Thirty One at Albion Park, Dixon became just the fourth Australian driver to reach 5000 wins, joining the late Gavin Lang, Chris Alford and Chris Lewis.

Down south Rodney Petroff was enjoying his own highlight after producing Used To Be A Maid to capture the Australian Premier Trotting Sale Final at Tabcorp Park Melton.

By causing a minor upset Used To Be A Maid provided Petroff with his maiden Group One win as a trainer.

Petroff has previously enjoyed success at the highest level as a reinsman.

Naturally rapt with the moment, Petroff was quick to share the glory.

“What a thrill,” Petroff said. “That’s my first Group One as a trainer and I couldn’t be happier.

“A lot of the credit goes to my wife Jo as she does just as much, if not more, with this filly as me.”

With Petroff holding the reins, Used To Be A Maid began well from the pole to gain the run of the race behind the favourite, Just A But Touchy, which led from barrier four.

Angled into the passing lane during the latter stages, the daughter of Used To Me sprinted to a three-and-a-half metre win from the front runner.

New South Wales raider Lyndys Love was three-and-a-half metres away third.

“She was travelling so well throughout but when Greg (Sugars) came around with Lyndys Love and applied a bit of pressure to the leader leaving the back straight, I started to get pretty confident,” Petroff said.

“I felt she had them covered before we turned for home and she finished off just as I expected her to.’

Rating 1:59.4 over 2240 metres, the three-year-old took her record to four wins and two placings from eight starts for earnings of $41,580.