Canberra gelding Macknuckle has taken the first steps towards a defence of his home town Cup with a barnstorming win at Rosehill.Trained by astute horseman Bernie Howlett, Macknuckle spent six months recovering from a slight tendon injury but showed a devastating turn of foot first-up to claim Saturday's Jim Beam Shed Handicap (1400m).Brendan Ward brought Macknuckle ($51) from back in the field to snare victory by a neck over Tromso ($5.50) with Mentality ($21) a long head away third.Multiple Gr

Canberra gelding Macknuckle has taken the first steps towards a defence of his home town Cup with a barnstorming win at Rosehill.

Trained by astute horseman Bernie Howlett, Macknuckle spent six months recovering from a slight tendon injury but showed a devastating turn of foot first-up to claim Saturday's Jim Beam Shed Handicap (1400m).

Brendan Ward brought Macknuckle ($51) from back in the field to snare victory by a neck over Tromso ($5.50) with Mentality ($21) a long head away third.

Multiple Group One winner Mentality looked the winner before the other two came hard.

"He surprised me," Howlett said.

"He had a little tendon injury after he raced in Sydney last time (March) and needed rest.

"I didn't expect him to win first-up, he's been off the scene for a long time and he didn't have an easy run in the straight.

"The Canberra Cup is where we are going and those staying races around Christmas."

On his way to victory in last year's Canberra Cup (2000m), Macknuckle ran fourth to Speed Gifted in a 1700m race at Flemington and fourth to Alcopop in the JRA Cup (2040m) at Moonee Valley.

His Rosehill win was a milestone for Ward who does most of his riding in southeastern NSW and Canberra.

"I've ridden midweek winners but this is my first Saturday winner in town," Ward said.

"I was expecting him to run a good race but seeing a field like this can be a great leveller.

"It's great to come here on a Saturday and win.

"At one stage I was out the back and from the 600 metres I had to get him into gear.

"At the 300 metres he really started to lengthen.

"There was a lot of speed on up front which helped him."

Tromso's runner-up placing was the second close call for the Chris Waller stable after Dystopia went down to Ofcourseican in the TAB Number One Club Handicap (1200m) after missing the start.

Glyn Schofield said he wasn't even holding the reins when the gates opened and had to act quickly when they did.

He gathered himself and Dystopia put in a wonderful effort to only go down by a half-head.

The winner is trained by Ron Quinton who intends to back her up in next week's Listed Tattersalls Lightning Handicap at Randwick.

"I'd really like to get some black type with her," Quinton said.

"She ran a good race when sixth in the Nivison a couple of weeks ago and I think I'll probably back her up in the Lightning."