Handy winter galloper Admiral made his way back to the winner’s circle for the first time in this campaign with a gritty display in the testing track conditions that prevailedat Rotorua on Saturday.

At home on a heavy surface, Admiral ploughed through the mud over 1560m to register career win number six in the hands of apprentice Jasmine Fawcett.

Trainer Stephen Ralph had commented before the race that he wanted to see his charge get an economical run near the pace after being used up to lead at all costs in some of his more recent runs.

“I told Jasmine that we didn’t have to go faster than anyone else as he will outsprint them in the run home,” he said.

“He’s a stronger horse now, so if we could get to the corner without using all his petrol I thought he would be hard to beat.”

Fawcett followed the pre-race instructions to the letter as she tracked a muddling speed set by Jochen Rindt before booting away in the run to the winning post to defeat Ambitious Winner and The Kipling Girl.

“Full credit to Jasmine as she worked it out really nicely,” said Ralph.

“When she took over on the home corner I was pretty confident.

“That’s his first win going left-handed so that’s another box we can tick off.”

Fawcett was full of praise for her mount as she unsaddled after the race.

“I didn’t have to ask much of him and he finished off really well,” she said.

“He was pulling the whole way, but he’s proven before that he loves a heavy track and he did it again today.”

Admiral advanced his career earnings to just over $154,000 with the win although Ralph is undecided where he will line up next, bemoaning a lack of suitable options in the coming weeks.