Was this a win for the Kiwis?

There  were tears of joy when trainer Nicole Molander scored her first Group One success when Keystone Del took out the Glenferrie Farm Challenge at Tabcorp Park Menangle today.

The $14.40 chance gained a gun run behind the leader and was driven to perfection by top reinsman Blake Fitzpatrick to come out and score by more than three meters in a rate of 1:56.3. New Zealand trotters Sovereignty and Vulcan, a late inclusion for the Kiwi team, finished second and third respectively.

The New Zealand-born Molander has been based at Menangle Park for almost two years after making the move across the Tasman to set up a stable of her own, a first for the young mother of two.

"It was a step back to go forward but it was the best move we’ve made,” Molander said.

An overwhelmed Molander shed tears of joy following Keystone Del’s win in the $100,000 feature. Keystone Del, a former Kiwi trotter, has now won six of his eight starts in Australia for Molander.

The win also earned the gelding a spot in the Pryde’s Easifeed Great Southern Star Final at Tabcorp Park Melton on March 23.