Trainer Richard Freyer has paid tribute to an old mate after promising stayer Leica Larrikin posted his second win at Flemington.Freyer is mourning the loss of his friend and stable client of 30 years Chris Woodberry who died last Thursday and as a mark of respect Leica Larrikin's jockey Dean Holland wore a black armband in Saturday's Learmonth & Topp Handicap (1710m).Freyer said the gesture was fitting as Woodberry's last bet was on Leica Larrikin when he scored a shock win at $41 at Flemington

Trainer Richard Freyer has paid tribute to an old mate after promising stayer Leica Larrikin posted his second win at Flemington.

Freyer is mourning the loss of his friend and stable client of 30 years Chris Woodberry who died last Thursday and as a mark of respect Leica Larrikin's jockey Dean Holland wore a black armband in Saturday's Learmonth & Topp Handicap (1710m).

Freyer said the gesture was fitting as Woodberry's last bet was on Leica Larrikin when he scored a shock win at $41 at Flemington on July 4.

"He was a good friend and an owner," Freyer said. "Chris was a giver, never a taker.

"He would come to the stable if we were ever short-staffed but he would never take anything."

Leica Larrikin was, for the first time, up against his more celebrated stablemate and Cups-bound brother Leica Falcon and from the start was in a winning position.

Unlike his previous win at Flemington when he came from last, Leica Larrikin was in front soon after the start before taking a sit behind Field Hunter.

Holland has ridden Leica Larrikin at his three city starts and was surprised that the four-year-old was able to take such a forward position.

"There was no way known I expected him to lead but he just jumped so good," Holland said.

"He is getting his barrier manners together and now he has just got to work on his racing pattern and relax a bit.

"He's a good horse."

Leica Larrikin has an awkward action which reflects his inexperience and Saturday's win was his second in seven starts.

Last start he finished seventh at Caulfield but Holland said he didn't handle the track.

"I was confident he would run better back at Flemington today," Holland said.

Holland eased out on Leica Larrikin in the straight and he held off a wall of horses to get home by a short half-head from Vandalo with Acosta a neck away third.

Leica Falcon finished last of the 11 runners but the slow pace was against him.

Leica Falcon is Cups-bound but there are no such lofty expectations for Leica Larrikin who is not even entered.

"One more run, maybe, is all we will give him this campaign," Freyer said.

"I didn't enter him in the Cups deliberately so there was no chance of changing my mind.

"He will have the three months off in the spring."

Leica Larrikin's sister Leica Rose, who finished last in the Asian Young Guns Handicap (1800m), also isn't entered for the Cups.