Goodness Graceous gives Wayne Binns his first training victory over five furlongs

Wayne Binns experienced a career-defining moment on Saturday, May 2, 2026, when Goodness Graceous delivered his first victory as a conditioner. The bay colt prevailed in the seventh race on the card, a maiden condition affair for runners aged four and older contested over the straight five furlongs (1,000m).

"Oh, my gosh, I don't know what to say, I am just so happy right now," Binns exclaimed. The 2023 graduate of the trainers' school barely had a moment to absorb the achievement before fellow horsemen and well-wishers mobbed him in the winners' enclosure, dousing him with drinks in customary celebration.

The festivities, however, came at a cost to his mobile device. "That was a touching moment for me, and I thank all my colleagues and friends, who shared this victory with me. After I left the winners' enclosure, I checked my phone, and a message came up… 'do not charge your phone'…it seems I was splashed with so much liquid which affected my phone. No harm done, as saddling my first winner is something to cherish," Binns stated.

On the track, the result was anything but routine. Lining up against ten rivals, jockey Jaheim Anderson stayed composed aboard Goodness Graceous — a son of Perfect Curlin out of Rachel's Grace — after the colt left gate eight tardily. Money Mission, with Raddesh Roman in the irons, set the early tempo alongside Dane Dawkins's mount Brilliant Mind.

Once the field exited the chute and joined the main course, Anderson steered his runner toward the inside rail — a tactical move that proved decisive. From there Goodness Graceous quickened sharply, reeled in the front-runners and pulled away to score by two and a half lengths in 1:02.1, with splits of 23.4 and 48.3. Modern Monarch (Jemar Jackson) was second and Delightful One (Tevin Foster) third. The success came at just the colt's third career outing.

For Binns, the milestone capped a patient two-year campaign. "It has been a long road with Goodness Graceous," he said. "I was preparing him as a two-year-old in 2024 to race at three. Then in late 2024, he received an injury and had to be taken out of training for a year. Goodness Graceous returned to training in late December of 2025, and then made his first competitive start in early March, 2026. Now after just three runs, he is a winner," he explained.

The newcomer was quick to credit the connections behind the colt. "This victory would not have been possible without the assistance of Mr Michael Bernard, who is the owner and breeder of Goodness Graceous. Mr Bernard has given a lot of encouragement, for which I am grateful," Binns said.