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By Brad Gray

Josh Adams admitted that he has had his demons in the past so it was fitting that he rode The Monstar to victory in the Listed AHC June Stakes (1100m) at Randwick to reignite his career.

Adams, who was having his first Sydney Saturday ride in over three years, battled a drug addiction but has come out the other side and now the future looks bright for the former star apprentice who has been riding at country and provincial meetings for the past six months.

“It has been a long time and something I never thought would happen again,” said an emotional Adams.

“I want to thank the connections and Brett (Cavanough) for entrusting me with the ride. It means a lot to have that trust put in me and then come here today and make the most of it.

“It’s been a long battle and it’s been pretty well documented that I’ve had my demons to deal with and it’s something I’ve dealt with in my time away. I never thought I’d be back at Randwick though. If I could get some rides and just chip away I’d have been happy.

“I have to thank all of the people that have stood by me – my family, my mum and dad, Grant Allard, my girlfriend Jess. A lot of people have been there behind the scenes and this win is for them.”

It was an emphatic win to The Monstar, trouncing his rivals by 5.8 lengths, but Cavanough seemed the least surprised spectator at the track suggesting that the seven-year-old put in winning work on Tuesday.

The Monstar romping home in the June Stakes

“He is just a swimmer. Nick Ryan jumped him out on a heavy track one day at home and he just flew in it. And I mean a proper heavy. We probably shouldn’t have even been out there at Albury,” Cavanough said.

“I galloped him on Tuesday and he has never gone as good so here we are. We’ll be storm chasers and just follow the wet tracks now.

“(The Monstar) is nearly as quirky as his jockey. I heard (Adams) cooing about 50m out and then he couldn’t help it, expressing himself with his hand in the air but good on him.”

Check out the results and replays for Randwick