Young trainer Leon Davies savoured his first Sydney winner when the promising Altonio overcame some anxious moments on the turn to win at Canterbury on Wednesday.The 27-year-old trainer, who is based at Tamworth, watched from the mounting yard as Altonio got himself out of an awkward position on the fence and sprinted away with the Rosehill Gardens Event Centre Handicap (1900m) to the cheers of the trainer."That's a huge thrill," Davies said."He (jockey Ric McMahon) rode it a treat and he's a ve

Young trainer Leon Davies savoured his first Sydney winner when the promising Altonio overcame some anxious moments on the turn to win at Canterbury on Wednesday.

The 27-year-old trainer, who is based at Tamworth, watched from the mounting yard as Altonio got himself out of an awkward position on the fence and sprinted away with the Rosehill Gardens Event Centre Handicap (1900m) to the cheers of the trainer.

"That's a huge thrill," Davies said.

"He (jockey Ric McMahon) rode it a treat and he's a very promising horse.

"I thought he was in trouble on the turn when he was stuck in on the fence but when Ric got him into the clear and got stuck into him he really hit the line strongly."

Davies elected to take the lightly-raced four-year-old back to the races for one more start this campaign after the gelding finished eighth at his city debut on May 21 at Rosehill after setting sail for home well before the turn.

"He'll go to the paddock for a spell now, he's got his confidence back up which is what I wanted," Davies said after the 1-1/2-length win.

"The penny still hasn't dropped yet but we'll put him in the paddock full of confidence and he'll be a better horse next time."

While Davies celebrated his first metropolitan winner in Sydney, leading trainer Chris Waller brought up his own milestone just 35 minutes later when $2.20 favourite Patrician's Glory won a rare 2800m race, the TJ's Champagne Bar Handicap, by 1-1/4-lengths over Spence with Splendid Honours third.

It was Waller's 95th Sydney winner this season which is his career-best tally for a single season.

Last season Waller trained 94 winners to finish second to Peter Snowden in the Sydney premiership.

"I haven't had a backward season since I have been in Sydney, every season has been a progression," Waller said.

"I thought after last season we were in trouble but we're beyond that now and we'll try and get a few more."

With less than two months of the season remaining, Waller holds a 17-1/2 win lead over Snowden while a double to jockey Nash Rawiller on Patrician's Glory and Essence Of Success extended his premiership lead to 14-1/2.

Trainer Kim Waugh also took the wraps off promising High Chaparral three-year-old Valdhez who took a tight run along the fence to win the Ascot Club Plate (1100m) on debut.

"He's bred to get over ground so that was impressive what he did today," Waugh said.