Unlike the above household names, Moore hasn't won a race this year. In fact it's been four years, five months and three days since the Thames-based reinsman last saluted the judge.

That was in his father Stuart's colours aboard Semaj at Manawatu Raceway. Tonight Moore, who owns a Thames petrol station with his Dad, made it career win number three in those same green and gold colours behind 5-year-old Live Or Die gelding, Jabal Akdar. It was the bay's first success in 48 starts.

"He's a frustrating type of horse to drive. I got Phil (Butcher) to drive him but it's his attitude and no-one can seem to get him to fulfil his ability. He has a bit of talent but he has a mind of his own. He likes the pace on and he can come off their backs okay. I'm thrilled I finally got him over the line tonight," Moore said.

Jabal Akdar is the only horse the 49-year-old Thames born and-bred horseman works with his father. In fact standardbreds have been in his blood since Moore senior started dabbling with horses in the late 1960s.-

"We've always had one or two. I think Dad's first success came with a horse which was my name spelt backwards - Eladaroom. He won six races. My only other two driving wins have been behind Semaj, but the best horse I've sat behind would probably have been Bill Darrah's trotter, Iwi Alex. I drove him last year on race-day at the Thames meeting," Moore said.

Moore drove his first winner behind Semaj (James backwards) in 2001-2002 season - nine years after first getting his licence. Tonight he sat in the trail behind Extended Credit and Stephen Argue. At the finish of the 2200m mobile they got the better of the former duo by a neck. Starry Styx (Andrew Neal) was 1-3/4 lengths back in third.

Jabal Akdar's winning time of 2:46.5 in wet and trying conditions didn't warrant him paying more than $21 to win the $6365 Cambridge Cossie Club Maid. His final 800m and 400m sectionals of 60.1 and 30.1 seconds were also respectable.

The gelding's winning mile rate of 2:01.8 wasn't the quickest of the night. That honour went to the locally trained They Alluvem in the $8000 Lis Mara @ Nevele R Stud Mobile for 0-3 win pacers. @Nevele

Trained by Andrew and Lynn Neal it was the latter who steered the 4-year-old Village Jasper gelding to a three-length and head victory over Rico Gear (James Stormont) and God Knows (Philip Butcher).

The underrated bay notched up his fourth win in 29 starts by stopping the clock in 2:06.3 for the 1700m mobile. His last 400m and 800m of 59.5 and 28.9 seconds in difficult conditions ensured a slick 1;59.5 mile rate.

Results from the Cambridge-Te Awamutu Harness Racing Club's meeting at Cambridge Raceway tonight (Thursday July 23) were:

Non Tote (Breeders Crown): The Geoff Small trained TINTIN IN AMERICA (McArdle) David Butcher.

Race 1: The Steven Reid and Graeme Rogerson trained WINSOME COURAGE (Courage Under Fire) Simon Lawson.

Race 2: The Stuart Moore trained JABAL AKDER (Live Or Die) Dale Moore.

Race 3: The Andrew and Lynn Neal trained THEY ALLUVEM (Village Jasper) Lynn Neal.

Race 4: The Michelle Wallis trained JIMMY'S DREAM (Sundon) Gene Robb.

Race 5: The Geoff Small trained AWOHALI (Elsu) David Butcher.

Race 6: The David Marshall trained UDARE (Dare You To) Peter Ferguson.

Race 7: The Steven Reid and Graeme Rogerson trained CAROLINE'S CULLEN (Christian Cullen) Tony Herlihy.

Race 8: The Steven Reid and Graeme Rogerson trained FLOJO TWO (Mach Three) Dexter Dunn.

Race 9: The David Kaa trained COOBY (Iraklis) Philip Butcher.

Duane RANGER (editor)