Eaton scores upset in opener 

Punters were dealt an early blow when rank outsider Eaton scored an easy five-length win in the Musk Creek Farm Handicap (2500m). 

Eaton was sent out a $61 chance in the benchmark 100 grade contest and relished the drop back in distance from 3000m he had raced over at in his previous three starts. 

The Michael and Luke Cerchi-trained stayer won a benchmark 70 race three starts back at The Valley and relished the solid speed on Saturday. 

Jockey Teo Nugent said Eaton was one of his all-time favourites. 

"He loves this track, won here four back when he dominated over the 3000 metres here," Nugent said. 

"It was a big step up in class up against horses like Sound that has Group wins to his credit, but he pulled out his best card today. 

"When I pressed the button, he really lengthened for me. He doesn't know that he's 10 years old and he definitely didn't know what odds he was either. 

"He had a good crack." 

Blinkers to the trick with No Secret 

The Mike Moroney stable has turned around the fortunes of No Secret with the former New Zealand mare racing to a 3-¾ length win in the Ascend Sales Trophies Handicap. 

Assistant trainer Glen Thompson said No Secret had become a head-scratcher for the stable after her defeat in a benchmark 64 grade race at Moe last start. 

Thompson said the No Secret's work had improved with the addition of blinkers. 

"A lot of it has to go down to the blinkers," Thompson said. 

"She was racing well-below par before today having shown a lot in New Zealand before coming here. 

"She had left us scratching our heads up until today, particularly her last start, but we have seen the best of her today. 

"I think we'll just go through the grades. She's a nice filly and there are more wins in store for her." 

Golden Slipper placegetter scores second win 

It had been almost three years and 19 starts since Mamaragan scored a debut win in the Group 2 Skyline Stakes at Randwick which led to a third-place finish in Australia's premier two-year-old race, the Golden Slipper. 

That was in 2020 and after three placings in his next 18 starts, Mamaragan was put up for sale. 

Flemington trainer Nick Ryan took a $120,000 gamble on the now five-year-old who recouped some of his outlay by taking out the Chandler Macleod Handicap (1000m) at his first start for his new trainer. 

The win supplied Blake Shinn with a winning treble having had earlier success aboard Fighting Arrow and No Secret. 

Ryan and Shinn were once fierce rivals on the track when apprentices in Melbourne during in the 2000's, before teaming with a smart horse who may have found confidence with Saturday's win. 

"I was saying during the week that we were once the fiercest competitors, whereas now we're teaming up," Ryan said. 

"There were no instructions today. Blake had jumped the horse out and had won on the horse in his only win in 20 starts. 

"He gives you a lot of confidence and he's in a league of his own at the moment." 

Rambler a Rebel again at The Valley 

For the second time in three starts at Moonee Valley, Rambler Rebel has been a blowout horse for punters. 

Ethan Brown rode Rambler Rebel to a $61 win on Christmas Eve and had the seat again when successful at $26 in the Ladbroke It! Handicap (1500m). 

Trainer Michelle Payne had the ride when the gelding finished sixth over Saturday's course and distance on December 31. 

While Brown had the ride on Saturday, Payne was still hard at work leading the gelding around to the 1600m start. 

"It wasn't actually a (pre-race) strategy," Payne said. 

"He was supposed to go around with the ponies, but they were off and gone. If I had of let him go when he got on the track, I said to Ethan that he would be off and gone. 

"I took him down there nice and calm. He can be a challenge at times, but he is a lovely horse when he wants to be."