Persistence paid off for Secret Toy Bizness when she won the annual Greys Challenge (1400m) at Flemington on Thursday.

The daughter of Written Tycoon has won 5 races in 23 starts but none have been as satisfying as the grand-final for greys on VRC Oaks day.

“I think everybody who owns a grey horse targets this race,” trainer Chris Ledger said.  “She ran fourth in it last year but has had a few problems and we’ve had to work hard to get her here today.”

Secret Toy Bizness (5m Written Tycoon – Alice In Toyland by Toy Pindarri) persisted with inside runs, despite a perceived bias against the rails, to win by three-quarters of a length from Queensland raider Time To Plunder.

Ledger and his father John prepare the mare for a large group headed by managing part-owner and breeder Karen Piergrosse.  The Wodonga syndicate also includes Kaye & John Walsh, Margaret & Geoff Binder, Ross & Barry Taylor, Cindy Thurgood, John Taylor-Prime and Maryanne Moir-Murnane.

“She always tries her heart out,” Piergrosse said.  “It’s a huge thrill to have a winner on such a big day on the racing calendar.”

Piergrosse is a mad-keen Collingwood fan and the Written Tycoon mare sports their black and white colours.  “I’ve had the silks registered for over 20 years and we get dressed up in our best black and white outfits to match the horse.

“I’m the only Collingwood supporter – the rest of them barrack for Geelong or Essendon – but they go with the flow and wear black and white even though they despise the Pies.”

Written Tycoon is high-balling in third place on the Victorian sires’ premiership this season with 28 individual winners of 39 races and over $1.41 million in prizemoney.  He stands at Woodside Park Stud for a $13,750 (inc gst) service fee.