By Graeme White
Some tinkering like a well trained mechanic has done the trick for trainer Pat Murphy with Aegipan this campaign.
The six-year-old has won four of his past six starts leading into Wagga on Sunday where he is rated a $12 hope on the NSW TAB for the Bennett & Barkell Benchmark 66 (1000m).
Aegipan won at his fourth start almost 12 months ago at Goulburn after making his debut late in life.
Owner Sarah Murray-Leslie gave Aegipan two starts under her care for a debut last at Newcastle and third at Moruya.

Trainer Pat Murphy (Pic: Bradley Photos).
Murphy commenced training the gelding at the end of 2024 and won with him at his second run on January 28 last year.
He has hardly missed a month since without a start proving his durability with 20 starts last year.
He was one of the more winningest horses too with five victories which have come at Canberra (2), Goulburn, Orange and the Bong Bong Picnics.
Murphy said working out what best suits Aegipan has been the key to his recent success.
“I changed a bit of gear with him and stick to 1000 metre races,” Murphy said.
“He likes to be out in front and controlling things his own way.
“He works like a 1400 metre horse, but for racing it’s 1000 metres.”
Aegipan, who is named after a Greek mythological being, is drawn to take up his favourite position from gate two with leading jockey Nick Heywood in charge.
The favourite Brenlyn’s Legacy ($2.70) has won three of his four starts after finishing second on debut last campaign.
Brenlyn’s Legacy won by almost three lengths at Wodonga first-up when starting at $3.90, followed up with narrow win at $1.90 at Albury then started at $3.50 when completing the hat-trick at Wagga by a bit over a length.
The three-year-old is raced by a large syndicate if which Albury mayor Kevin Mack is a member.
“He could be unbeaten after running well at his debut,” Mack said after his Wagga win.
Jockey Cory Parish has been aboard in all starts and will again be in control on Sunday from gate five.
Murphy’s sister-in-law Lucy Longmire now prepares another of the main chances in Let’s Go Brandon who won two races in succession last campaign.
He last raced when last at Rosehill in July under the care of Wayne Hudd.
Let’s Go Brandon ran fourth in a recent trial at Canberra.
“He is a pretty nice horse from what I have seen,” Murphy said of Let’s Go Brandon.
Danceenuff was an impressive first-up win before finishing third at her latest start while Wegotabetterhoffa was an impressive first-up winner.