A late jockey change proved no barrier for Warrnambool trainer Matthew Williams on the final day of the carnival.
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Damian Lane replaced the banned Damien Oliver on Hollow Log in a 2000-metre benchmark 64 handicap, guiding the six-year-old bay gelding to victory.
Williams said he was confident Lane would do the job after Melbourne Cup-winning hoop Oliver was rubbed out for failing an alcohol breath test.
Hollow Log ($10) defeated High Lago ($9.50) from the all-conquering Darren Weir stable and the Mitch Freedman-trained Treat Me Right ($4.60).
“It was a flip of the coin really. Damian’s been riding terrific for a long time so I don’t think we lost anything there,” Williams said.
Williams said Hollow Log relished the conditions.
“He loves that sort of wet ground and bit of time in between runs – he’s a pretty light-framed horse,” he said.
Lane said Hollow Log found the finish line strongly after being under threat in the dying stages.
"He was challenged and stuck his head out on the line,” he said.
“I saved a bit of ground through the middle of the field.”
