Redwood Invasion's brain is catching up to his body, his trainer, Robbie Holmes, believes.
The big 5yr-old saw off all challengers in the c0 trot to bust out of the maiden grade at his 14th attempt at Oamaru yesterday.
The Leithfield Beach trainer-driver felt the elusive win was not far way despite the fact Redwood Invasion had been disappointing in a fresh state at Timaru last week.
"He's always had the ability, but he just has to put it together,'' Holmes said.
"But he's been a bit more sensible lately, touch wood.''
Holmes, who trains the Sundon 5yr-old for Grant McStay, thinks the gelding should acquit himself well in the c1 grade as long as he does not get too claustrophobic.
"I think he'll go in a field now - he's a lot more settled - but time will tell.''
Holmes steered Petite Royal to victory in race 8, proving the breeding is really starting to kick in for the 5yr-old mare.
The daughter of Monarchy is out of Petite Sunset (7 wins), a daughter of the great 1990s mare Pride Of Petite.
● Blair Orange continued his charge past 100 season wins with three victories in the sulky yesterday.
Two of those were for West Melton trainer Ken Barron, an association which has served the pair well this year.
The first of the running double for the Barron-Orange combination was provided by debutant Mighty American, who galloped early before sitting parked with a lap to go.
"He went away and made a break but he picked himself up again and we were just lucky they backed off enough to get round,'' Orange said.
"It was a good effort first up.''
Orange's other wins came with Better Be Chevron (race 4) and Ardent Lustre (race 6).
Meanwhile, Elusive Flight ticked off a successful weekend for Westwood Beach trainer Graeme Anderson.
After watching the pacer he part-owns, Titan Banner, take down Christen Me at Addington on Saturday, Anderson was in the sulky behind Elusive Flight to record a victory in the amateur drivers' mobile pace at Oamaru yesterday.
● Jim Reardon and Dean Harrison had just the answer when it was time to name a Santanna Blue Chip colt, combining their first names to come up with James Dean.
And the juvenile looked like a rebel with a cause yesterday, when he overcame favourite Billy to win a c0 2000m mobile pace at his fourth career start.
Reardon and his wife, Fiona, of Te Pirita, paid $7500 for the mare who was in foal to Santanna Blue Chip, at the 2013 weanling and all-aged sale.
Alegria had already left smart types such as Alexis, who won six in New Zealand before being exported to Australia.
The Leo O'Reilly-trained colt brought tidy juvenile form into yesterday's race after finishing sixth behind King Solomon at Addington on May 8.
King Solomon finished third in Saturday's group 1 sires stakes final.
● New Years Jay, formerly trained by Amber Hoffman, will continue her career from Barry Purdon's Clevedon stables after her fourth in Saturday's Winter Cup at Addington.
Bred and raced by Brian Anderton and the estate of Bryan "Mouse'' Kennedy, New Years Jay won seven races across two seasons before taking on the top grade this season for four placings from 11 starts.
