Wesley Vale harness racing trainer John Castles teamed up with the state's leading driver Gareth Rattray to snare a double at the meeting on the North-West Coast in Devonport last Friday night.
The pair combined to win the Harding Hotmix Mobile with Spot Eight to give that gelding his third win of the season and that followed an impressive performance from Dayraid to win a C1 or better handicap over 1286 metres.
Dayraid, owned by staunch harness racing stalwarts on King Island, was having his first start for Castles and he was given the run of the race behind the leader by Rattray.
When the pace quickened about 600 metres from home Rattray was able to ease Dayraid off the fence to make his move and once in clear racing room the six-year-old gelded son of Dawn of a New Day ran on well to score by a neck from race leader Dellas Command with Sign No More 4-1/2 metres away third.
Dayraid was well backed to start the $4.30 equal favourite with Dellas Command and given the way Castles' horse hit the line there should be more wins in store in the coming weeks.
Spot Eight's win was arguably his best this season as he drew the outside of the second row and was forced to settle at the rear.
Rattray made his move three-wide about 800m from home and he latched into the back of Timely Sovereign that went ahead of him.
But he ended up three-back in the running line when Union Force barged out in front of Timely Sovereign.
Union Force ended up in the breeze and when they turned for home Spot Eight was forced four-wide but he proved too strong for his rivals going in to score by 1-1/2 metres from Timely Sovereign with Union Force 2-1/2 metres away third.
Rattray ended the night with a treble courtesy of Tisu Bombbelle winning the last race on the seven-event card.
Peter Staples