Tags scores first win at start number two for Bathurst trainer Gayna Williams

Tags ($3.60 favourite, Nick Heywood) led the field into home during the Choices Flooring Maiden Handicap (1,200 metres) and shook off the challenge from Shiny Agent ($8, Ken Dunbar) to win by two lengths in his second career start.

Jockey Nick Heywood had to get a little busy on board Tags with 400 metres left to run but with the extra nudge Tags responded well and produced an encouraging sustained sprint.

Shiny Agent was the only horse to come along for the ride out in front of the pack but he never greatly threatened Williams' leader.

The best of the rest was Addictions ($10, Ashley Morgan) a further three and a half lengths back.

Tags made the journey to Parkes five weeks after a close fourth place on debut at his home track of Tyers Park.

Williams was careful not to bring the gelding back too soon, given his injury history, and he pulled up safe and sound from Saturday's win.

While Tags is still some time away from reaching his full potential Williams said it's a promising start.

"He's probably a horse that's probably six months or more away from maturity. He's still learning, he's very green and inexperienced but at this stage he's looking like a horse with a bit of a future," she said.

"It's a big group of connections involved, with a lot of them being from Mudgee, and another from the South Coast but a couple of them were there to see him win. They were really pleased with him.

"The jockey, Nick Heywood, said that he felt the horse will get further. Looking at his build and his physique he more than likely can get up to mile in his next preparation.

"He's had a few injuries with shin soreness, hence the break between Bathurst and Saturday, and he's been plagued with that for a little while.

"Depending on how he pulls up over the next few days that will shape what sort of plans we have for him."

Williams came close on two more occasions to adding to Tags' success on Saturday when Redirect and Griffin's Gaze finished runners-up.

Redirect ($2.60 favourite, Ashley Morgan) couldn't hold off the challenge from The Long Run ($4.80, Ashleigh Stanley) in the Parkes Gold Cup May 16 Open Handicap (1,600m).

Griffin's Gaze ($21, Kath Bell-Pitomac) went stride-for-stride in a great battle with Coupla ($4.60, Anthony Cavallo) in the Benchmark 58 Handicap (1,600m).

"Redirect ran well. We were happy with his run. The horse who beat him, The Long Run, is a very handy horse trained by Peter Stanley. That was the horse we were concerned about and the one that we thought might grab us," Williams said.

"Griffin's Gaze went exceptionally well. He's had only one prior start over the 1,600m so it's all still new ground for him. He wasn't beaten far. We thought his performance was excellent."