One of the highlights of winter harness racing in the Canterbury region this year was the run enjoyed by the barn of Gavin Smith.
Hardly a week went by without the North Canterbury horseman winning a race with one of his stable and the barn has carried that form into the new season.
Yesterday at Oamaru Raceway the stable produced two winners and went within a half head of making it three.
First up was October Rain in the junior drivers event in the hands of Matt Anderson.
After settling back early, October Rain was still last at the 800 metres mark before Matt looped the field down the back straight four and five wide and then October Rain dug in and showed a fair degree of fight to hold off the challengers in the straight.
Gavin has always known that the mare had more than her fair share of ability.
" She had a stifle operation at two which wasn't that successful and it still affects her."
" She is better fresh but I thought she might just be a run short today so to race like she did surprised me a bit.
" The motor has always been there but the stifle issues have held her back although she does seem a bit better this time in."
" She is tentatively booked to be served this spring and race on in foal before being retired," Gavin said.
The other winner for the barn was the well travelled Tango's Delight.
Away well for Gavin Smith, Tangos Delight sat in the trail and watched as Boomer Bailey and Reklaw Supreme went to war in front of him.
Aware that both runners had used a lot of petrol early, Gavin eased Tangos Delight out into the running line at the 900 metres to sit on Reklaw Supreme's wheel.
When Gavin said go at the top of the straight, Tangos Delight sprinted away for an easy win by over two lengths.
As Gavin had indicated earlier in the week on the Harnesslink ringaround, he thought Tangos Delight was his best winning chance of the weekend.
" She got hurt up north nearly a year ago and the owner Ronnie Dawe let me have a go at getting her back to the track."
" Her fitness has been improving with each run and I thought she would be hard to beat today."
" With the run she got early it played right into our hands really."
" She is another one that is heading to the broodmare paddock this spring," Gavin said.
Gavin almost tore off a treble with his runner in the last Incredible Anvil going under by just half a head.
While his team is going great at the moment, Gavin is really looking forward to the next few weeks with a group of horses hitting the workouts this week.
" It is the nicest group of young horses I have ever had and I am quite excited about a few of them."
" If a couple make the step up, then the stable could be in for some really exciting times," Gavin said.
If his recent results are anything to go by then his next batch of runners could signal the breakthrough that all young trainers look for.
Harnesslink Media