The young gun previously trained in partnership with his father Bill, but took over the family operation 18 months ago.

Last year Wilde had a lean carnival despite having about 30 starters.

Since then he had a brush with stewards but he emerged as a racing star on the rise on Thursday.

Wilde said gradually upgrading facilities, which now included a 1000-metre track on an incline at his Hopkins Point Road stables and dependable key staff were the difference.

“Ashley Hoy is in the office, I’ve got a new racing manager in Jason Breen and then Shane Jackson heads the track work team,” he said.

“Shane is a terrific asset. We work closely and Declan Bates is also part of the team. But it’s still very much a family business,” he said.