Moments before the start of the Roebourne Cup, Michael Ball looked up to the heavens and asked his late mother for some divine intervention.

“My prayers were answered,” Ball said. “She sent me a bit of luck.”

Almost 12 months to the day since his mother died, Ball savoured his biggest training success with an emotional hometown cup victory on Saturday.

Crossaro, a former Victorian and Perth stayer, dominated his rivals with a strong win in the $60,000 feature for jockey Peta Edwards.

Ball’s former WAFL teammate Mark Bayliss sent the dual Belmont Park winner north after his stint in Albany with trainer Rebecca Wallrodt.

Ball asked to train Bayliss’ handy stayer Morton’s Fork instead before accepting Crossaro.

“We played in South Fremantle’s reserves premiership together in 1992,” Ball said.

“Mark had just come back from Collingwood. I’ve always had horses for him.

“I’m born and bred in Roebourne so to win my hometown cup, it was very special.”

Ball, who works as a prospector and truck driver in the Pilbara racing off-season, followed a family tradition when taking out his trainer’s licence in 2009.

His father Tim was a Roebourne trainer, his uncles and grandfathers were jockeys and his cousin is Darren McAullay, WA’s leading racecaller.

Ball’s wife, Natasha, is the president of the Nor West Jockey Club, which was established more than 150 years ago.

“She’s the motor of my team and the motor of the club,” Ball said.

“She’s a big part of this win.”

Ball was still celebrating the day after the Roebourne Cup as he eyes more cup success with Crossaro, a rising six-year-old who has won four of his 25 starts.

“The Port Hedland Cup is next Sunday here at Roebourne, so he’ll line-up in that,” Ball said.

“If he goes all right, we’ll trudge on to Gantheaume Point for the Broome Cup.

“The extra furlong really helped him in the Roebourne Cup and Peta just put him in a good position in running.”

The $100,000 Broome Cup (2200m) is on August 13.

Wet tracks in Sydney could determine the spring carnival path for WA-owned filly Sheeza Belter.

Co-trainers Peter and Paul Snowden are keen to set the Group 1 JJ Atkins winner for Sydney’s princess series, culminating in the Group 1 Flight Stakes.

But wet tracks could force them to look to Melbourne, with the Group 1 Thousand Guineas a possible option.