His new Ballarat stable produced its first win with just his fifth starter.

Tyanna opened the account for the English-born Alexander, who worked with leading trainers in Great Britain, Europe and Australia, before going out on his own, at Seymour on September 25.

Tyanna now has the opportunity to give Alexander his first taste of success on his new home track – Sportsbet-Ballarat – on Wendesday.

She lines up in the Sportsbet Showcase Benchmark70 Handicap, 1400, at Ballarat Turf Club’s long-awaited first race meeting on its newly upgraded track.

The BTC combined with Racing Victoria and state government to carry out the $1.5-million project after last year’s Ballarat Cup in late November last year.

BTC was to have resumed racing on the new racing surface mid-year, but drainage issues in a section of the home straight caused a delay.

The BTC and RV chose to wait until after winter, with today’s meeting launching the countdown to the Ballarat Cup on Saturday, November 22.

Tyanna has had two starts for Alexander, having had a first-up third.

Alexander is one of eight hometown trainers with starters on a strong eight-race program.

Darren Weir has eight, Dan O’Sullivan three, and Simon Morrish, Mark Lewis, Kevin McCartin, John Thom, and Alan Hanrahan one each.

NORTH Melbourne Football Club chairman and television sports broadcaster James Brayshaw will be a special guest at the races.

THE new training partnership of David Hayes and Tom Dabernig has jumped out of the blocks – sitting third on the state premiership table and second in the metropolitan title chase.

They will be looking to carry this on with Duck Dynasty in the Sportsbet-Fixed Odds Specialist 3yo Maiden, 1600m, in Ballarat.

The son of Pentire is nominated for a string of feature races – $250,000 Blue Sapphire, 1200m, at Caulfield next Wednesday; $750,000 Caulfield Classic, 2000m, on Saturday, October 18; and $1.5m Victoria Derby, 2500m, at Flemington on Saturday, November 1.

To get to any of these, Duck Dynasty needs to win at Sportsbet-Ballarat, and easily.

This will be the gelding’s third run this preparation after four unplaced lifetime starts to date.

Other runners still in the loop for spring riches:

• Lashkaal (trained by David Hayes-Tom Dabernig at Euroa): engaged in Porter Plant Fillies’ and Mares’ Maiden, 1600m. Nominated for Blue Sapphire; $1m Crown Oaks, 2500m, at Flemington on Thursday, November 6; $1m Caulfield Guineas, 1000m, on Saturday, October 11; and Caulfield Classic.

• Tears Of Joy (Mark Kavanagh, Flemington): engaged in Porter Plant Fillies’ and Mares’ Maiden, 1600m. Nominated for Crown Oaks; Caulfield Guineas; and Caulfield Classic.

• Sistine Start (Andrew Noblet, Caulfield): engaged in Porter Plant Fillies’ and Mares’ Maiden, 1600m. Nominated for Crown Oaks, $1m Thousand Guineas. 1600m, at Caulfield on Saturday, October 11.

THE Melbourne Demons continue to do it tough, with the latest setback being the loss of James Frawley to Hawthorn as a free agent.

Maybe their luck can change with the Shane Nichols-trained Godavari in the City of Ballarat Maiden, 1400m.

The four-year-old carries the Melbourne colours – navy blue with a red yoke – with former Demons players Barry Bourke and Peter Keenan among the owners.

Godavari has been placed four times in eight starts.