LOCAL horseman, Chris Walsh, has broken through to claim his first victory in more than 100 starts.

Walsh travelled to Stawell last Monday with eight-year-old gelding, Crime Boss, breaking his drought in the last when he grabbed the early lead, before going on to win the 1785m race comfortably.

He told The Spectator he went into the race full of confidence, despite his starting odds being more than $100.

“I was pretty confident, he’d been racing really well but just without any luck,” he said.

“I focus just on him, I broke a few in, but I do everything with him and help out with whatever Jackie (Barker) needs me to do.”

Walsh is Barker’s cousin and Walsh, Barker and Rod Barker all had drives in the race.

He said he knew he was in a good position halfway through the race and kept focused until after he passed the winning post.

“Stawell has got tight turns, if you can get the lead then run away, it is hard for people to make ground up,” he said.

“Initially I didn’t know if I could cross the one and it was just a matter of slowing him down,  then down the back straight I looked around and one of the favourites wasn’t coming up very fast.

“Once I got to just before home turn I kicked a bit and they weren’t able to catch me.”

“Halfway up the back straight, when I looked around I thought “I got this”, it was an amazing feeling.

“I think everything was happy, I don’t think there’d be a disappointed person around that I knew there.”

Walsh debuted in the sulky during the 2012-13 season and has had a fluctuating level of involvement in the industry since then.

“I had a massive season the following season, I had 56 drives, then I went away from harness racing and it was only when COVID hit and I left the Cally that I got back into it,” he said.

“You always go out trying to win, but if it comes it does and if it doesn’t, I am still happy with the one win.”

Walsh said the whole family had been very supportive and was grateful they were there to see the milestone.

“A huge thank you to Jimmy and Rodney, Rodney goes out of his way to help me and without him, I wouldn’t be able to get to the races,” he said.

Walsh and Crime Boss backed up the success with a second placing at Birchip on Sunday.