The time gave the former Steven Reid-trained pacer the record for the mile by older pacing geldings on a 1000m track, a record formerly held by Casimir Camotion, Boulder Creek and Pacific Playboy at 1:48.3.

His time is second only to Nemisis' 1:48.1 as a time achieved by a New Zealand horse, and matches the efforts of Attorney General (May 2006) and Wherethemoneywent (August 2006).

Fake Denario, now trained by Josh Green in Delaware, ran the time in a $40,000 Open Handicap on the under card of the $500,000 Ben Franklin Pace eliminations.

Co-breeder Mark O'Connor, of Invercargill, said he was "really rapt" with the win and it was a "tremendous kick for the family", from which he and wife Pauline own a number of mares.

Reid, who actually took the former Breeders Crown-winning three-year-old to America himself as part of a three-horse racing party in 2005, was not surprised by his development.

"I'm not really surprised, he was a very good horse, he just didn't like you taking hold of his mouth which is why the style of racing up there suited him.

"The biggest thing to remember is that he was a very immature horse down here, and now that he's fully matured, he has come of age."

On the same card, Irak Attack (6g Iraklis-Tenisha) became the fastest progeny of the late Iraklis when winning his $27,000 event in 1.50.2 (fifths) for driver Tim Tetrick and trainer Mark Harder.

The older half-brother to New Zealand-record setting three-year-old Rider On The Storm won eight races for Dean Taylor before being sold and now has 19 career wins to his name.

The former Jim Curtin-trained Sunshine Boy (6g Sundon-Zed Bee Gee) kicked off his American career with a 1:57.3 score at Harrah's Chester on Monday.

He is now in the stable of Bobby Myers and co-owned by Canterbury trainer/agent Bruce Hutton.

Another Curtin-bred and trained product to win last week was Hidden Riches (6g Dream Away-Atomic Flair), who also raced and won from the Stephen Doody stable before export in 2005.

He is now trained by Brenda Bramble in Delaware and won a $7,300 event in 1:56 at the local half-mile Harrington track on Sunday.

He is now within a whisker of $100,000 in career earnings.

Consistent mare Golden Falcon (8m Falcon Seelster-Kanegold), last year's Tioga Downs, New York, Horse Of The Year, has returned to that track with a bang for the new season.

In securing her 27th win, the former Alan Beck-trained mare set a new personal best mark of 1:52.3 (fifths) on her way to victory in the $13,000 mare’s mile.

L A Rock (7g Caprock-Milly Dee) won two races for Ray Jenkins before being sold in 2004.

He has won a further 20 races and nearly $200,000 since, the latest a 1:53 score at Pocono Downs, Pennsylvania, on Friday, in a $16,000 event.

It was a great relief to trainer Jacob Hardman, who claimed him in March last year, as it was his first win in the 42 starts since he won at his first start from the stable.

Winforus (7g In The Pocket-Kamwood Byrd) had just four starts for Paul Kerr before export in 2003, and he has gone on to be a success story on the American stage.

His four-length, 1:55 score at Rosecroft Raceway, Maryland, on Saturday for trainer George Bartlett was the 29th win and 83rd placing of his career.

Last season's Group 2 Southland Oaks placegetter Seaswift Princess (4m Live Or Die-Seabreeze Franco) has made a great start to her American career after being sold out of Malcolm Shinn’s stable in December.

She has won four races and over $50,000 in her first five months racing for new owner Joe Muscara and trainer Jeffrey Clark in Maryland, the most recent a 1:55.2 (fifths) score at Harrington on Tuesday.

Alexikov (9g Sundon-Dispride) was a regular in the northing trotting handicaps in 2004 and 2005 for owner/breeder/trainer/driver Luk Chin, winning seven races at Alexandra Park.

He has won a further 19 races in 'The States', a majority of them with current trainer Robert Harmon in Michigan, who was the original importer before losing him to a claim to another stable.

Alexikov won a $3,800 race at the local Hazel Park track on Monday, running 2:01.3 (fifths) with his trainer in the cart.

Former Cran Dalgety-trained pacer Red Cloud Rising (9g In The Pocket-Harmony Vance) was also a Monday winner, running 1:54.2 (fifths) at The Meadows, Pennsylvania, at his first start for new trainer Michael Palone.

It was his 29th career win and pushed him over $170,000 in earnings.

Midnight Eyre (7g Cam's Trickster-Innocent Eyre) won three races for Blenheim trainer Mark Gill before being sold to Australia in 2004.

He won eight races for the Gary Hall in Perth before being shifted on to New York.

He ran 1:56 at the half-mile Monticello track on Tuesday to secure his fifth American win and first from the stable of current trainer Arthur Green.

In fact Midnight Eyre was one of four ex-kiwi winners on the card, the others being Wilson Jay (5g Christian Cullen-Jay Eyre), Boss Atom (9g Devil's Adversary-Meadow Atom) and General Maximus (6h Tinted Cloud-Midas Gold).

Star Struck Lover (11m Holmes Hanover-Tingle) won two races for Bryce Buchanan before being sent to Perth, and ultimately America.

Nearly a decade on she scored her 40th career win at her 208th start when rating 2:00.2 (fifths) at Rosecroft Raceway on Sunday.

The $260,000 earner is now in the Maine stable of Eddie Fournier.

Garrick Knight