Turnbull drove the Josh Turnbull-trained Lucky Cruz ($4.80) to success in the NSWSOA & APGOLD Pace (1,660 metres), flying past odds-on favourite Sheza Rockstar ($1.60, Mat Rue) on the turn for home.

Trying to get himself off the 499 figure was an arduous task for Turnbull at recent meetings.

Over the past fortnight he'd placed with Key Defender, Camanchi Warrior, Punto Caliente and Baby Bee Mine but the wait finally came to an end in the opening event of the Parkes card.

Just for good measure Turnbull also drove Faire La Fete to success in the very next race.

"I'd keep running second. [My wife] Carly was saying to me that 'I was trying too hard' but I said 'I'm not, and I think the horses aren't either'," he said.

"I've had a good couple of chances to get there over the last couple of weeks. You think it's never going to come, but I knew my best chance would be in the first two races on Friday night.

"It was great to get the monkey off the back early, and then the next horse ended up winning too."

Turnbull would have been feeling like the universe was conspiring against him from ever reaching win number 500 with the way Friday's opening event began.

Lucky Cruz got away fairly from gate eight and looked like he'd settle one out and two back.

However, Terror To Rock galloped in front of him, sending Turnbull's runner into a brief gallop of his own before he settled.

Then Milliondollarlill also raced roughly ahead of Lucky Cruz, forcing Turnbull to work around the outside and settle in the death seat.

"There was a bit of a skirmish on the first turn. We galloped for a few strides and I was thinking 'Not again, this one's going to get beaten as well', but he got down pacing again," Turnbull said.

"He was good enough to go sit outside the leader and it worked out all good from there."

Lucky Cruz poked ahead of the favourite by half a length when the field went across the back straight for the final time.

Despite having to be worked harder by Turnbull nearly half a lap away from the winning post, Lucky Cruz still had a lot left in reserve when straightening for home, eventually pulling clear to win by 5.5 metres over the favourite in a 2:02.7 mile rate.

Turnbull's journey towards the 500 victory mark began more than two decades ago, winning his first race in April of 1999.

"You always remember your first one," Turnbull said.

"It was at Penrith on a horse called Cherokee Charmer, for my uncle Craig. That was a while ago now.

"I always love winning but the wins at Menangle are always special. It's hard to win down there. I lived in Queensland for a while and won races at Albion Park for people like John McCarthy. It's great getting to drive for the big trainers.

"I started training myself probably five years ago and it's always a thrill to get a win with a horse that's out of form, and getting it to turn things around. The ones you train yourself are the ones you always take a little bit more out of."

Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can access our trusted content: