Despite having a smaller stable compared to many of his fellow trainers, Kym Davison continued a terrific season at his home track on Monday.

Racing Desert Opal, Brittany Button was in the saddle as the pair won the Country Boosted Benchmark 68 Handicap (1600m).

It was a thrilling event, with Button riding the Albury galloper quietly before unleashing him on the home straight to do battle with eventual runner-up Guy’s Last Prize (Coriah Keatings, $4.40) from the Michael Sparrow yard.

In the end, the four-year-old D’Argento gelding scored the win, with the $8.50 chance prevailing by a neck as the pair finished well ahead of the remainder of the field.

Desert Opal, a $25,000 purchase at the 2023 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale, has now earned connections over $70,000, starting 19 times for two wins and six minor placings.

The result put the exclamation mark on what has been a strong season for Davison, who boasts 12 wins at a strike rate of 17.9%.

Davison believes his success comes back to attention to detail and making the right purchases.

“We have had a good year,” Davison told Country Punter.

“Over the last couple of years, we have invested more and spent more on horses, around that $40,000 to $50,000 mark, and this year we even spent $70,000 on an All Too Hard yearling.

“Plus, we have an Ole Kirk there that is unraced, and those horses will go forward to races in the ensuing years.

“We’ll continue to focus on increasing the quality of stock, and with the amount of prizemoney in country racing, there are good opportunities.

“We’ll do our due diligence through the sales. I put a lot of hours into going through pedigrees, and there is a certain type I look for, and I’ll continue to do that.”

Another reason behind Davison’s success is Button, who helped the stable to 11 of their 12 victories in 2025/26.

Indentured to Gerald Egan, for whom she has also ridden 11 winners this season, Button still claims 1.5kg, and Davison is a fan of the youngster.

“I am always on the lookout for progressive apprentices in the area,” Davison said.

“I started using her 12 months or so ago, and we have a great rapport, and it’s fair to say she is the stable jockey at the moment.

“I will look to put her on if Gerald has not got a runner in the same race, and we are happy to put her on; she listens to what we ask her to do, and 90% of the time, she does what we want.”

A lion’s share of Davison and Button’s success came at the beginning of the season, with Autumn Break winning three on the trot at Wagga and Albury before the rising star was tested in Highway company ahead of a 2026 Country Championships campaign.

An eventual victory in the $250,000 Group 3 Carbine Club Stakes at Royal Randwick on April 4 was a pinnacle moment for the stable.

The soon-to-be four-year-old is now one of six favourites for the $2 million Kosciuszko to be run and won at Royal Randwick on Saturday, October 17, and Davison has the feature race in sight.

All going to plan, Autumn Break will trial at Wagga on August 27, giving potential slot holders confidence he will be ready for the 1200m country-only sprint.

“It’s great how Autumn Break came along, and he’s one of the favourites for the Kosciuszko, and if we are lucky enough to draw a ticket or get picked, that’s where he will go,” Davison said.

“He’s been back for six weeks and has really developed, and we are looking forward to the preparation ahead.

“Some people said we could have gone on to Brisbane, but he was a late foal – born in November – and he’s not overly big, so we gave him the chance. He’s come back nicely.

“If he doesn’t get picked for the Kosciuszko, there are other races, but if he was to be picked and did come out and win, then we can look at a race like the Golden Eagle.”