Former Adelaide-based trainer Sam Kavanagh has made the perfect start to his new Sydney venture, celebrating a win with his first local runner.

The victory by Words Are Weapons in Wednesday's Ibis Milano Lunch Special Sprint (1100m) at Warwick Farm brought equals doses of excitement and relief for the 27-year-old who is the son of top Melbourne trainer Mark Kavanagh.

"She was our main gun to bring up here early," Kavanagh said.

"I set her for this race. I was confident until last Tuesday when she didn't handle the track and I was a bit toey after that but then she worked well on Saturday.

"It's a great way to start and a massive relief."

Kavanagh has held his trainers' licence for 18 months and has enjoyed success in Adelaide with the likes of multiple stakes winner Bagman who went on to be Group Two placed in Melbourne last spring.

Strong prize money levels were among the appeals of moving to Sydney where he has 12 boxes at Rosehill.

"The prize money and the owners' bonus schemes are good incentives," Kavanagh said.

"Racing is exciting in NSW."

Among the first to congratulate Kavanagh following the win by Words Are Weapons was his new neighbour, premier trainer Chris Waller.

But it has been the influence of his parents which has counted most.

"They've been very supportive. Dad has been on the phone to me every day for the last two weeks," Kavanagh said.

"He just said to me, `make the first one count'."

Words Are Weapons was having just her fourth start on Wednesday and notched her third win.

Kavanagh revealed he had been hoping to set her for a first-up shot at a black-type race in Adelaide but she had a setback and he had to shelve those plans.

The mare will have her next start in Saturday company on her new home track, which will be welcome news for Kavanagh who is still finding his way around Sydney and arrived at Warwick Farm several hours before he was due.

"I was a little bit concerned about the traffic and I thought I might get lost on the way," he said of his early arrival on-course.

Meanwhile, Michael Rodd's decision to make a rare midweek appearance in Sydney as a favour to a friend paid dividends when the horse he came to ride, Supreme Warrior, won the Pro-Ride Handicap (1600m) for Victorian trainer Leon Corstens.