Darren Weir finished just short of 300 wins for the 2014/15 season and the trainer hasn't taken long to get off the mark for the new campaign with First Bloom winning at Moonee Valley.
Six-year-old mare First Bloom broke through for the first time in 18 months as she denied the Peter Moody-trained Spirit Of Heaven and fast-finishing Dig A Pony in Saturday's Mitchelton Wines Handicap (1600m).
It was the first win of the season on the opening day for Weir who has won the past two Melbourne trainers' premierships.
Weir prepared 79 city wins in Victoria for the 2014/15 season with 298 wins nationwide.
First Bloom spent 63 weeks on the sidelines before resuming in May and her victory again confirmed her liking for Moonee Valley.
She has two wins and three placings from six starts at the track.
Apprentice Harry Coffey had First Bloom back in the field before he was able to latch onto the back of Spirit Of Heaven approaching the home turn.
First Bloom ($7) got the better of Spirit Of Heaven to win by a short head with favourite Dig A Pony ($3.40) flashing home from last to just miss, finishing another head away.
"It's good to see her back at her best," Coffey said.
"Early on she showed she was going to be a pretty nice horse ... and just after the long lay-off it's taken her a while to win again.
"She's been running well but it's good that she's got the win and hopefully she gets a bit of confidence and can go on with it again."