Williams wins on Orient Line at Caulfield

After well over two years without a win, the John Moloney-trained Orient Line has put together two victories on the trot.

After breaking through at Pakenham last start for the fourth win of his career and first since March 2015, the five-year-old gelding was sent out one of the main chances in Saturday’s TROA Supports Jockeys Trust Plate (1400m) and burst through late to score by a neck.

The win gave premiership-chasing jockey Craig Williams an ideal start to the day in the opening race, having started the meeting two wins behind leader Beau Mertens in the title race.

Orient Line ($5.50) settled in the second half of the field on the inside and was in need of an opening in the straight as Williams stuck to the fence.

But he was able to angle Orient Line into the clear at a crucial time, coming off the leaders’ backs inside the final 150m before bursting through to defeat Mr Optimistic ($10), with another neck back to Dane Thunder ($8.50) in third.

“I don’t know how he got out but he did,” Moloney said.

“He’s been running well and probably looking a bit unlucky. But with a bit of luck, all of a sudden he’s put two wins together.”

Williams said he needed a bit of luck in the straight but was able to get it and was impressed by the win.

“I had a horse to be able to do it and I needed luck and I got it,” Williams said.

“So it was good.”