Veteran gelding Canary Islands' first win for three years was cause for celebration in more ways than one.They eight-year-old's victory in Wednesday's Champagne Bar Handicap (1550m) at Randwick brought up the second leg of a winning double for trainer Anthony Cummings and gave apprentice Ben Vassallo a boost to his career with a lucky late pick-up due to Taylor Lovelock-Wiggins' illness.But no-one cheered louder than Cummings' foreman Barry Smith when Canary Islands beat off Eagle Rock to score

Veteran gelding Canary Islands' first win for three years was cause for celebration in more ways than one.

They eight-year-old's victory in Wednesday's Champagne Bar Handicap (1550m) at Randwick brought up the second leg of a winning double for trainer Anthony Cummings and gave apprentice Ben Vassallo a boost to his career with a lucky late pick-up due to Taylor Lovelock-Wiggins' illness.

But no-one cheered louder than Cummings' foreman Barry Smith when Canary Islands beat off Eagle Rock to score by a short neck.

"He's my favourite horse in the stable," Smith said.

"He gets me ready before I go to New Zealand in the hunting season.

"I jump him and he loves it and he's good at it.

"He will make a wonderful hack for someone one day and it's great to see him win.

"He's a lovely old horse but he has had learned a few tricks over the years.

"But he relaxed well today."

Vassallo, who claims three kilograms, was recently let go by Tim Martin and will finish his indentures with Guy Walter at Warwick Farm.

"I had a good feeling about today and even better when I got the call at 9.30 to say I had picked up extra rides," Vassallo said.

"It's been a bit of a struggle but I'm with Guy Walter now and I'm really happy.

"I'll go anywhere to ride.

"I've been riding in town on Saturdays but not on many real winning chances but I was quite confident going into the race on Canary Islands."

Cummings' son and stable representative Edward was impressed with the ride.

"If he keeps riding like that I'm sure we'll be using Ben more," he said.

Promising three-year-old Sir Fox gave the stable its first winner when he held off the Bart Cummings-trained Royal Feeling to win the www.royalrandwick.com Handicap (1550m).

Another veteran kept making his presence felt when Jim Cassidy steered Just Been Lucky to win the Members' Terrace Handicap (1100m).

Just back from a two-month suspension for a marijuana offence, Cassidy piloted two winners at Rosehill on Saturday and was at his vigorous best on the Nathan Tinkler-owned four-year-old.

"It's my ambition this year to ride as many winners as I can for Nathan," he said.

Vassallo wasn't so lucky at the end of the day when he lost his irons on So Finer in the Australia Day at Warwick Farm Handicap (1800m).

So Finer had been leading but was quickly swamped in the straight with Lamasery giving Jessie Whipp victory on another of what would have been Lovelock-Wiggins' mounts.