Harness racing meetings at Oamaru always seem to bring the best out of horses trained by Margo Nyhan and her partner Peter Davis.
Hardly a meeting goes by at the North Otago raceway without the couple registering a win or two and yesterday was no exception with the trainer/driver duo racking up two more wins on what must be fast becoming their favourite track.
First up was the maiden trotter The Zigmeister who worked to the front from barrier six for Peter Davis and after being steadied mid race had enough in reserve to hold out the late burst of Trial Separation and clear maidens at just his second lifetime start.
The five year old grey son of Monkey Bones ran about in the straight a touch and there appears plenty of scope for improvement with a bit more raceday experience.
Peter Davis was not surprised by yesterdays win.
" He has always had a lot of ability right from the start but has had more than a few issues."
" As a two year old he was going super but curbed a hock so we put him aside."
"When we got him back in he was a different horse who couldn't trot a yard."
" We brought him back at three but he was still all at sea so in the end we put him out for nearly fifteen months."
" This time in he was close to getting the sack but has turned the corner lately and is finally getting back to what he showed us as a two year old."
" He qualified at Methven just two weeks ago so he has come a long way in a very short time."
" We will take him back to the trials now and try to give him some ringcraft to go with the ability," Peter said.
The second winner for the day was the Oamaru track specialist Sarah Palin.
The six year old daughter of Pegasus Spur has a real affinity for the North Otago track with her record after yesterday's win standing at eight starts for three wins and three seconds.
As with most of the Margo Nyhan trained runners, Sarah Palin has exemplary standing start manners and was first away yesterday for Peter Davis from barrier one but quickly handed up to the free going Bet's Sun after 400 metres.
Given a lovely run in the trail albeit several lengths behind the tearaway leader for the rest of the trip, Sarah Palin used the passing lane to good effect in the straight to hold out a late challenge from Live The Dream by a length and a quarter.
It was the mares sixth lifetime win and along with twenty two placings took her earnings over the $62,000 mark.
Peter would love a few more as genuine as Sarah Palin.
" She is a great horse to have in the stable as she is so genuine"
" That was her best performance of her career yesterday as she had to drag the field up to the tearaway leader and 3000 metres has never been her favourite distance so it was a great run under the circumstances."
" Every time she goes off the place she gives you 100% so you can't ask for any more than that," Peter said.
Punters would be well advised to take note of any runners in the black and white silks from the Nyhan barn at future meetings at Oamaru.
Harnesslink Media