A narrow win, but impressive one, taking into account the David Hopwood Handicap winner, Just For Starters, had not been seen about since August of last year.

Robbie Laing described the gelding as a bit rusty, who missed the kick but was still able to make up ground and race midfield, in fourth place, for most of the trip.

While Sunday Escape and Corsica Lad were fighting out the finish with their respective riders, Craig Williams and Damian Oliver, conscious of the jockey’s premiership, the pint sized gelding, Just For Starters, bobbed up in the centre of the pair and blew them both away.

When Robbie Laing was asked where has the gelding been all this time? The reply short and to the point, “he has just been hanging about the stable.”

Maybe Robbie could have a few more hanging about that he is likely to produce at any time.

Punters obviously remembered Just For Starters well, he won his first race here at Caulfield over 1000 metres, he had only two previous starts prior to Saturday’s win.

He is just a small horse, there is not much of him although he is a solid little bloke with a bit of talent, he could win again in similar company.

Just For Starters with the yellow cap