It was a good day for Ascot Park trainer Wayne Adams and stable driver Shane Walkinshaw when they bagged a double on their home course.
The roll started in Race Four when Panspacificflight four year old Milehigh Magic made the most of the passing lane to win easily for Walkinshaw beating Sketching by half a length.
"He was a wee bit immature last season. He had a couple of starts as a three year old and he didn't finish them off but he's a different horse this year. He's strengthened up and grown in his ability too. He's gone good at home and at the workouts and we were expecting big things of him today. I think he'll be competitive in the C1 grade," Adams said.
The gelding is raced by Grant Stalker and his partner Margaret Kreger. Stalker, a dairy farmer formally of Canterbury had earlier raced Overboard Again from the Adams stable. Stalker now farms in Balclutha.
Shane Walkinshaw, Milehigh Magic, Wayne Adams and Grant Stalker – Photo Bruce Stewart
Milehigh Magic was purchased at the Sale of the Stars by Adams for $8,500 when offered by Macca Lodge. He was having his first start from a stand today.
"He's never even had a stand at the workouts. Shane worked him from the stand a couple of times during the week and he stepped so we were confident he'd go away."
The Wayne Adams stalls gearing up to quinella Race Eight.
Later in the programme Adams quinelled Race Eight when the well bred Mach's Back beat stablemate Navajo Art by a length and a quarter.
Mach's Back prior to winning
Mach's Back is by Mach Three out of Dream Angel which is a full sister to One Dream the winner of eighteen races and $889,487.
He was bred by Invercargill lawyer Murray Little and driven by Shane Walkinshaw.
Bruce Stewart
Southland Harness Racing