GEORGE Foster, former assistant to Brian Meehan at Manton, saddled his first winner since taking out a licence in October.

King of Legend, ridden by fellow Scot Robert Havlin, won the mile-and-a-half handicap at Wolverhampton's recent evening fixture by three-quarters of a length, and no doubt many of his followers in the Marlborough area would have had a bob or two on.

King of Legend made every yard of the trip and the trainer was quick to acknowledge his jockey for making sure there was no hanging about in the race.

He added: "The horse is pretty keen and I told Robert to take the bull by the horns and make the running if nobody wanted to go on."

Foster, pictured, the former assistant to John Gosden and present master of Manton, Brian Meehan, left to take over the reins at the purpose-built yard in Scotland almost looking over Musselburgh racecourse last autumn.

He has had to be patient for his first success having had 18 runners to date.

Contacted at his Scotland base he told Turf Talk he was happy to have got off the mark and was enjoying his new role north of the border.

He said: "We have got around 18 horses in at the moment with a couple more arriving from Dubai, they are a mixture of Flat and jumpers.

"They love their racing in the area and being so close to the racecourse at Musselburgh is another big plus.

"I must admit I haven't been back to Marlborough yet, but I should be coming down in a couple of weeks time to see my new granddaughter.

"I still keep in touch with the lads at the Abbey Stadium where I still have an interest in five greyhounds.

"While I was in the winners' enclosure with King of Legend my mobile rang .

"It was the lads from the dogs at Swindon cheering and congratulating me on the winner, by the sound of things they must have all backed the horse.

"The trouble with being this far away you don't always get told when your dog is likely to win, and when you do get the message, it loses.

"We have excellent facilities up here for training horses and I am really looking forward to the Flat season.

"Our recent winner had plenty of Scottish connections and was ridden by a Scotsman, so everyone was happy.

"He runs again on Monday week, and hopefully he can do the business again with Rab in the saddle."

Looking back over his time at Manton, Foster said he had been associated with some good horses, including the John Gosden-trained Oasis Dream, and Red Rocks and David Junior, both trained by Brian Meehan.

The former Lambourn trainer also bred Goodenough Mover, who has won his fair share of races, owned locally by Dave Goodenough.

"I'm very pleased for George, it's his first winner and hopefully he will have a few more," said Goodenough.

"I have a chat with him on a regular basis but I must admit I didn't back his winner."