At 24, Tim McIntosh is just starting to make his way as a trainer and has walked away from Randwick a winner from his first metropolitan runner.

Star Shaft scraped into the field for Saturday's Highway Handicap (1100m) as the third emergency and got under punters' guards as a $26 chance.

Jockey Paul King had faith however, and gave up a certain four or five rides at Hawkesbury to partner Star Shaft.

He was rewarded when the four-year-old came with a late charge to beat Northern Fury by three-quarters of a length with Bid Of Faith ($20) another 1-1/2 lengths third.

The weekly Highway Handicap is restricted to horses trained in the country with McIntosh hailing from Muswellbrook where he works between 12 and 15 horses at one time.

"This is my first runner in Sydney," McIntosh said.

"I didn't think he'd get a run in this race so I nominated him for Warwick Farm on Wednesday.

"I like this horse and I think he's in for a good preparation."

King also thinks Star Shaft can measure up to better things.

"I rode him in a trial at Cessnock and told my manager Wayne Harris I wanted to be on him when he ran," King said.

"It was one of the strongest Highway races so far.

"The horse has learned to relax and can be ridden back now and finish his races off.

"I'm pretty impressed with him."

Despite his age, McIntosh has had a solid grounding.

"Pat Farrell is my great uncle and I was apprenticed to him when I was 15," McIntosh said.

"He has been a big help to me."

Owner Craig Benjamin has also been a big help and believes McIntosh is a trainer going places.

"I bred this horses and decided to keep him and sent him to Tim," he said.

"I just love the way he looks after the horses and the way he feeds them.

"He's an ex-jockey so he knows how they should be ridden and besides he's a nice young bloke."