Cameron shows he still has the knack

Robert Cameron returned to winning form as a reinsman at Winton yesterday after a break of 2 years.

The 70-year-old Yaldhurst horseman trained and drove Salem to win the 2yr-old race.

Salem won by a neck from Wicklow, driven by Dexter Dunn, the 18yr-old leading reinsman.

Cameron has driven 1055 winners in New Zealand.

He drove his first winner, Cheerful News, at Wyndham in November, 1955 when based at Invercargill.

He was the world driving champion in 1983 and topped the New Zealand premiership for the 1982-83 season.

He has also driven winners in Australia, the United States and Macau, where he won the world championship.

Cameron returned to race driving at Gore on Saturday when third with Tim Kelly.

Cameron had not driven in a race since August, 2006 when he won with Slick Lavra at Oamaru.

That was his only drive in the 2006-07 season. He did not hold a licence last season.

He was having his first race drive for two seasons when he handled Slick Lavra.

His previous win had been in Australia and he had not driven a winner in New Zealand since the 1998-99 season.

Cameron shares the ownership of Salem with Murray Heaps, of Christchurch.

Heaps bought Salem (by Artesian) in embryo with the mare, Witch Hunt.

Salem is the first New Zealand winner sired by Artesian, who took a record of 1.49.4 in the US. Artesian is by Artiscape.

Salem is the 10th foal of Witch Hunt, the dam of winners Kaimata Get Smart, Kaimata Cover Up and Back In Genes.

Witch Hunt, who qualified as a pacer, is a half-sister by New York Motoring to several winners including Trident, whose 14 wins including the 1985 Sires' Stakes final for 2yr-olds.

Heaps has raced several horses including Game Nian, a trotter who won seven races in the late 1980s when trained by Murray Butt.

•Gear changes for the Reefton meeting today.-
Race 1: Sea Spray Cindy - side blind.
Race 2: Polly Joe - hood and pole, no murphy blind; Motu Speedy Star - ear plugs; Ranfurly Day - pull down blinds.
Race 3: Live and Triumph - ear plugs; Have A Cigar - no hood; David Dillinger -hood, figure8, rubber joiners on hopples; Maturity - elastics, no ear plugs.
Race 4: Daisy's Lavra - no removable hood.
Race 5: The Pacing Priest - no boring pole; Patchwork Star - hood.
Race 6: Wrong Way Lannigan - half prickers; Mason - shadow roll; Tena O'Brien - figure8; Fittler - removable ear plugs.
Race 7: Bluegum Motel Shines - ear plugs, tongue tie, no nasal strip; Cambo - rein pricker; Lively Kiteen - no murphy blind; Niraadi - boring pole.
Race 8: Barnetts Dream - removable ear plugs.
Race 9: Dreamona's Lady - no nose flap; Town N Around - figure8.
Race 10: Brite Autumn - running overcheck rein pole left side, no pacifier.