Amazingly, 45 of the first 200 wins he gained as a trainer were in Group races. That's top shooting by any standards.

It is not difficult to appreciate those remarkable statistics when one identifies with the fact he developed and trained juvenile standouts in the mould of Trident, Tight Connection, Christian Cullen, Spirit of Zeus, Tuapeka Knight and Cigar.

That contingent reads as something of a "Who's who'' of New Zealand harness racing.

O'Meara, who has always had a sharp eye and uncanny judgment as components of his astute stock sense, is pleased with the way his latest young stars Hone Heke and Myouri have come back to prepare for three year old racing.

A magnificent looking son of Christian Cullen, Hone Heke won three of his four juvenile starts and finished third in the other when clinically unwell in Sir Clive's Sapling Stakes at Ashburton in February.

They were separated by Hone Heke's stable mate Myouri.

"I realized a few hours before the Sapling Stakes that he was not 100 percent but my sister Gabrielle Gormack (part owner) had already left Southland for the races and I was unable to contact her on the road,'' O'Meara said.

"For that reason, I did not scratch him but Jim (driver Curtin) and I knew he was not 100 percent but he still raced remarkably well considering we took blood off him later and found him to be pretty crook.''

The stunning looking colt experienced a growth surge after winning his next and final juvenile start at Forbury Park and his trainer elected to turn him out to develop and grow into his big frame.

"He would be as good a looking young horse as I have ever laid hands on and some good judges reckon he reminds them more of his sire Christian Cullen than any other of his sons.''

O'Meara will not rush Hone Heke as he wants to give him at least his standard jogging period of 10 weeks before he gets serious with him.

"The Sires' Stakes series is what I will concentrate on with him and Myouri,'' O'Meara said.

Hone Heke, who returned to work a month ago, was given three months off and has grown into a bigger colt than Christian Cullen at the same age, he said.

Myouri was earlier inclined to be light fleshed but O'Meara is delighted with the way the son of Falcon Seelster had filled out.

Myouri started eight times at two for a win, two seconds and three thirds.

O'Meara bought him after he finished second to Hone Heke at Winton in his debut on 22 December last year.

Don Wright