The Lee Freedman stable landed its first metropolitan winner in just under two months to snatch the trainers' premiership from the powerful David Hayes yard in the very last race of the season at Sandown on Wednesday.With both leading trainers locked on 64 wins, it looked unlikely that Freedman, with only two runners at the meeting, could hold off the Hayes team which saddled up eight starters.However, Hayes had three placegetters but failed to land a winner, while Freedman had a second with Zac

The Lee Freedman stable landed its first metropolitan winner in just under two months to snatch the trainers' premiership from the powerful David Hayes yard in the very last race of the season at Sandown on Wednesday.

With both leading trainers locked on 64 wins, it looked unlikely that Freedman, with only two runners at the meeting, could hold off the Hayes team which saddled up eight starters.

However, Hayes had three placegetters but failed to land a winner, while Freedman had a second with Zacroona, ridden by Damien Oliver in the Gothic Hcp (1400m), before apprentice Nathan Rose booted home Charzoo in the Dantelah Hcp (1400m).

For Rose it was only his second city winner, having landed his first at Sandown a week ago in an apprentices-only race, and his first ride for the Freedman stable.

With Rye-based Freedman and his brother Anthony busy with their horses at home, the stable was represented by Sam Pritchard-Gordon at Sandown.

"It was all part of the plan," Pritchard-Gordon joked in reference to the fact that the stable hadn't trained a city winner since Gibraltar Moon at Flemington on June 6.

"Lee and Anthony will be tickled pink. The premiership coming down to the wire like that and the sense of theatre. It's all good."

Freedman has now won seven Melbourne premierships, one more than Hayes.

Meanwhile, the enthralling battle for jockeys' premiership honours between champion riders Damien Oliver and Craig Williams also got down to the last race but when their mounts finished seventh and sixth respectively, they were locked together on 71 winners.

Williams gained the ascendancy early winning the opening event, the Winlake Hcp (1200m), on Dane The Rave ($6), prepared by his father Allan Williams.

However Oliver, who had six rides at the meeting, two less than Williams who had a full book, hit back with his fourth ride, a well-judged one aboard the Darren Weir-trained One Lucky Lady who took out the Betfair Hcp (1600m).

Williams has now won four consecutive premierships, while for Oliver it was his eighth.

"It's been a great day and I think we've doubled the crowd," Oliver said.

The apprentices' title also had an exciting conclusion with Nick Hall landing his 33rd win for the season aboard the Robert Smerdon-trained two-year-old Stoneblack in the Chortle Hcp (1600m) to hold out Ibrahim Gundogdu and Dean Holland by one win.

Gundogdu, who went into the meeting one winner behind Hall, guided All Cheval home the winner in the Gothic Handicap for his master Mick Kent.