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By Greg Prichard

Glen Milligan had his best day so far this year at Taree on Monday, training two winners - including one that was racing first-up after six months and started at the big odds of $41 - and almost landing a treble.

Milligan opened the meeting at his home track with Bear’s A Star finishing a half-length second in the Johnson & Mongan Country Boosted Maiden Handicap over 1000m and things just got better for him from there.

Lion Class, having her first run since November 10, won race two - the Hogan Plumbing Group Class 1 Handicap over 1000m - with ease despite getting a bump soon after straightening.

The three-year-old gelding eased in the betting from $26 to $51 before eventually starting at $41.

“We thought he’d go well,” Glen Milligan [pictured left] said. “He’d been working all right and we were happy with him.

"It was just a case of whether after so long out he might just come up one run short of actually winning.

“He’s got ability, but he’s got a few issues with the way he races.

"The other horses related to him that I’ve trained are similar - they’re all a bit wayward and run about, they just take a long time to click.

“But he did the job yesterday and the hot speed certainly helped him. They went a bit silly in front, which we thought might happen, and the two-kilo claim for Zac Wadick helped as well.”

Milligan’s second winner came in race six - the Gloucester Cup Benchmark 66 Handicap over 1400m - when That’s Molly produced further evidence of her liking for her home track.

The four-year-old mare was behind a wall of horses entering the straight, but a gap soon opened and apprentice Wadick expertly drove her through it to score.

That’s Molly has won at two of her of her last three starts and all three of her career wins have come at Taree.

“I’m going to take her to Scone for the TAB Highway at their stand-alone meeting on Saturday week,” Milligan said.

“It’s a Class 3 over 1600 metres, which would suit her. She mightn’t be good enough for that level, but I’ve got to give her the chance.”

Wadick continued his development as an apprentice by riding both of Milligan’s winners and as well as his double on the day he had two seconds.

During the period from March 25 onwards, Wadick has had 38 rides for eight winners at an impressive strike-rate of 21 per cent. Milligan had six runners on the day and none of them finished worse than fifth.