While Craig Kennett was doing the winning business in Auckland with trotter Valmayne, harness racing trainer Josh Kennett was at the other end of the country at the Winton Raceway winning with Veneto.
It was the junior driver and training licenseholder's first win in the south since he moved to Ryal Bush where he's stable foreman for Nathan Williamson.
Veneto is a Badlands Hanover mare and was a sales purchase on the second day of the 2013 Sale of the Stars.
"I liked her in the ring and she was an affordable sort of a horse that I got for two and a half thousand dollars."
"She's been fun to muck around with."
"She paced as a three year old and I won a race with her which was good."
When she came back in she seemed to enjoy trotting so I just put trotting shoes on her and she trotted good so I thought I'd keep at it," said Josh.
She qualified at Ascot Park in December and today was her fifth start in a trotting race.
"She has improved after a ten day let up after her last race."
"She has been working pretty good for a maiden trotter and I thought she'd be a good chance with the right sort of run today."
From barrier one she began well.
"She didn't have enough speed to trail but three back on the fence was okay," Josh sais.
The winning margin was three quarters of a length with Rydgemont Milly running second.
Veneto
Bruce Stewart – Southland Harness Racing – Check site here