Renowned trainer Brian Mayfield-Smith returned to the winner’s stall for the first time in more than three years when the lightly-raced gelding Henny Hoo broke his maiden in the Puckapunyal Army Cup April 14 Maiden Plate (1109m) at Seymour on Tuesday.

Famous for being the trainer to end Tommy Smith’s legendary 33-year streak of Sydney training premierships in 1985-86, Mayfield-Smith said it was nice to be back in the winner’s stall for the first time since Greatwall of China won at Sandown in November 2009.

Renowned trainer Brian Mayfield-Smith returned to the winner’s stall for the first time in more than three years when the lightly-raced gelding Henny Hoo broke his maiden in the Puckapunyal Army Cup April 14 Maiden Plate (1109m) at Seymour on Tuesday.

Famous for being the trainer to end Tommy Smith’s legendary 33-year streak of Sydney training premierships in 1985-86, Mayfield-Smith said it was nice to be back in the winner’s stall for the first time since Greatwall of China won at Sandown in November 2009.

“I got bit nervous before today. It’s only a maiden but there was a bit hinging on it for me,” Mayfield-Smith said.

“I’ve had a couple of horses that were probably past it and you bring them to the races and they run nowhere so to get a winner it really picks you up.

“The problem with me is I never know when to give up. I just love being involved.

“I’m flat-strap just training one horse at the moment because I’m doing it all on my own but I’m enjoying it which is good.”

Well-backed to start the $1.90 favourite, jockey Brad Rawiller took Henny Hoo straight to the front early where he travelled kindly throughout before pinching a break on the turn and racing away from his rivals.

Despite the final margin reading 2.8 lengths over the David Hayes-trained Rasmeyaa ($2.80), Rawiller barely had to get serious on the three-year-old son of Henny Hughes and eased him down 50 metres from the post.

Now in his third stint as a trainer after first retiring in 1995 to pursue a lifelong dream to live in Africa and then retiring again in 2009, Mayfield-Smith said the passion still burns as deep as ever to achieve his ultimate goal, winning the Emirates Melbourne Cup.

“I don’t know how it’s going to happen but the dream is still alive, you need plenty of money now, but you can always dream and that’s what this game’s about,” he said. (www.racingvictoria.net.au)