Invercargill trainer Ray Faithful didn't know what to make of Geordie Sivad's run last weekend at Wyndham but at the finishing line he looked a bit stiff.
Today on the same course luck wasn't in the equation when the gelding dealt to a good field of class one horses.
"It was a funny run last week."
"He looked a bit flat at the 400 then he was unlucky at the finish."
"Things just didn't work out right."
I thought he'd run second to Clark's horse (Rakarolla) today but Jonny (Cox) drove him a wee bit more positively which is the way to drive him."
"He hasn't got a lot of speed so you have to make it a staying contest," said Faithful.
At the finish Geordie Sivad had a four length winning margin and his time of 2-57.1 made it a race for the hardy.
The four year gelding had eight starts last season for an all the way win at Winton and three other minor placings.
"He's come up super good."
"He's better this season than he was last."
"Jonny thought he went good and made a few suggestions about changing some of his gear and he said he was pulling up a bit at the finish."
"He also said he could have won by more."
"He's a hard horse to train because he's a big dumb ignorant shit."
"We'll race locally and space his races fortnightly and see what unfolds."
Mr Handleman's run fresh up was good and indicated his season should be profitable while Rakarolla's effort for third was huge.
He improved three wide from the 1250 metres and didn't get any cover from that point on.
Annajodi looked a shade unlucky in running eighth.
Bruce Stewart
Reproduced with permission of Southland Harness Racing – Check site here