Matty Craven completed a self-imposed ‘assignment’ after White Lion scored a last stride win at Mount Gambier on Border Cup heat night.

A cream colored palomino, White Lion was resuming from a spell after finishing unplaced at Terang in July last year.

The four-year-old threatened to ruin his chances when he galloped at the start however Craven was able to push through along the pegs and ‘drive for luck’ inside the final lap of the race.

Somehow Craven managed to weave his way between horses in the home straight and White Lion ($2.50 eq fav) finished admirably to get up and score by half a head from co favorite Vista Sierra.

A $14,000 purchase at the APG Yearling Sales, White Lion found his way into Craven’s western district stables because the trainer was looking for a ‘project’.

“He was only small when he went through the ring and with his unusual color I suppose I was looking for a challenge, so I bought him,” Craven said.

Craven admitted he is still scratching his head how he managed to find the line ahead of Vista Sierra.

“When the gap opened in the straight I took it but on the line I thought the outside horse had won and I couldn’t believe it when the number went up,” he said.

Craven doesn’t know how far White Lion will progress through the classes but he concedes the degree of interest in the horse is considerable.

“He lives in a paddock near the road and people are always enquiring how he is going and kids line up to have their photo with him at the races,” he said.

“It’s great that he has won a race because a lot of people have been patient on the journey with him because he is so unique, it’s a good result.

The fact he attracts attention is a positive for the sport.”

White Lion is by the cream colored stallion Arctic Cat out of the chestnut Live Or Die mare Rainbow Banner.

Answering to the stable name of ‘Milky’, White Lion will now be aimed at winning a race in Victoria.

“I just need to find the right race for him, he gets a bit worked up at the races and he has a mind of his own but hopefully he will continue to create interest for a little while,” he said.