Darryl Roberts lands metropolitan victory

Trainer Darryl Roberts has had to wait an extra two days wait to land his first metropolitan winner but it has been worth it.

The Maitland-based Roberts saddled Bills A Goodie in Monday’s TAB Highway Handicap for country-trained horses with the gelding leading throughout over the 1800 metres.

The Randwick meeting was transferred from Saturday because of the extreme heat over the weekend.

Ridden by leading Sydney apprentice Andrew Adkins, Bills A Goodie ($10) scored a half-head win over the $3.80 favourite Medieval with Allzin ($9.50) a short-half-head away third.

“I’ve been training two or three years now but I’ve been around horses all my life,” Roberts said.

“I was a jockey once and it’s in the blood. It’s what you do.”

Roberts began training in the 2012-13 season and Monday’s victory was his sixth career winner.

Roberts praised the ride of Adkins saying Bills A Goodie could be a hard ride as the gelding switches off at a vital stage in his races but was suited by the run home at Randwick.

“The way they race here really suits him,” Roberts said.

“He’s looking for more distance now and is starting to come into his own.”