A locally trained contender, Always Enuff, delivered a decisive victory for followers with a commanding performance at Mornington.

The mare, prepared by Shane Nichols and Hayden Black, clinched the Tobin Brothers Celebrating Lives Handicap over 1000 metres on Saturday.

Guided by jockey Zac Spain, Always Enuff ($41) crossed the line a clear 1-¼ length ahead of the heavily backed favourite, Tres Magnifique ($2.50), with Saluted ($6.50) securing third place a neck further back.

Spain described himself as merely a ‘passenger’ on Always Enuff, noting that the mare took him into the race as they approached the home turn.

“I couldn’t get in and I was three-wide,” Spain told Racing.com.

“They went quick early and then the tempo came out of the race, and she just started to tow me from the 500 (metres).”

“She loves this track, being trained here, and Shane has kept her mad fresh and with no weight on her back, I allowed her to flow, and she showed her good turn of foot that she normally shows.”

“There’s not much credit to me, I was basically a passenger today.”

This win marks Always Enuff’s third success on the Mornington track, where Nichols and Black base their training operations.

Nichols commented that Always Enuff benefited from a reduced weight on Saturday, having carried 58kg for a first-up fourth at Bendigo and then 59.5kg when finishing eighth at Caulfield on September 16.

“She was really good first-up then had no luck second-up when she got too far out of her ground with 59-½ kilos but worked up to the line good,” Nichols explained.

“I felt she hadn’t gone backwards and this race we thought would be a good race for her.”

“She has won three times here now and down to 54 (kilos) she was able to make a strong run and she was quite impressive.”

“It was good for the group. They’ve been a bit patient with her, and the races have to be run to suit now, with a bit of sting out of the track, but it’s a nice pay day for her.”

Nichols indicated that the 1000m distance is perfect for Always Enuff and that his next objective is to identify a suitable ‘Black Type’ race over the same distance.

“We’ll probably try and hunt some ‘Black Type’ with her,” Nichols stated.

“She’s won $300,000 and she’s run fourth in a Stakes race, so we might try and target something down in the weights.”

Betting on this race is now available through leading Australian betting sites.