Strathalbyn trainer Roslyn Day is sure glad she decided to make the long trip from the South Australian town to Melbourne.

In tow she had her lightly raced, but highly talented, Gallo di Ferro gelding Road Worker - who under grey skies at Flemington today scored an upset win in the $70,500 Shamrock Travel Handicap (1410m).

Day, who trains from a property near Strathalbyn, about 45 minutes from Adelaide, almost didn't bring Road Worker to Melbourne. Thankfully a decision to race in Melbourne and scratch from today's local meeting at Morphettville repaid connections by the tune of $45,500.

The win was also the first in the Victorian capital for Day, 33, a trainer for about three years.

"He was only my third starter in Melbourne," Day reported. "Another of my horses Rosden finished fourth and second in his two starts here."

Day, who grew up with an interest in equestrian, has twelve in work - the majority home breds from the family's nearby Riverside Stud.

Road Worker is a Riverside product - but unlike most of the stud's youngsters he wasn't offered for sale as a yearling.

"He broke a shoulder as a weanling," Day recalled. "We had to box him for at least three months as he recovered. So unlike most of the others he wasn't offered at the sales."

As well as being raced by Roslyn, Road Workers other part owners are her brother Trevor and his wife Julie. They run Riverside Stud at Mount Compass, while Day cares for her racehorses nearby at Wistow.

The family are preparing a draft of 22 horses for March's Malaysia Airlines Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale at Morphettville. Among them is a filly by Gallo di Ferro - the sire of Road Worker - and resident of Ken Maton's Dibden Park Stud at Oakbank.

Road Worker ($6-$8-$6.50) was strong to the line in today's race. He easily held out the hot favourite Safari Sunbeam ($1.50-$1.80-$1.50 fav) by a length and a half. Finniss Sea ($7-$8-$5), another visitor from Adelaide, was third, another length and three quarters back.

The fourth and last place was filled by King Charles ($6-$8-$6.50) - he being another two and three quarter lengths from the placegetters.

PIC - Bruno Cannatelli.