All the support before Sunday's $20,000 Hermitage Hill Retreat Maiden Handicap (900m) at Wellington Race Club was with with Mark Milton's Skye Lover ($1.75) but Alison Smith's Cotton On George defied the odds movement, breaking his maiden with Matthew Cahill in the saddle after the favourite missed the start by six lengths and never looked in it.
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Smith's gelding was drawn in barrier seven for the sprint and after a fast start that saw Cotton on George and two others lead the rest of the pack, he was able to work his way towards the fence and get into a pole position for the home stretch.
He broke his maiden wait with a two-length triumph from Praline ($61), to Chilli Pop ($31).