Popular rider Shankar Muniandy showed his group 1-winning wares for the first time since hitting racing's biggest heights in Malaysia at yesterday's Wingatui jumpouts.
The significance of the White Robe Lodge Handicap to South Island racing was not enough to stop the New Zealand Pattern Committee from downgrading the race from group 3 to listed status.
Two of Southland's leading ladies return to the track tomorrow for the province's first thoroughbred meeting of the season after vastly different winter breaks.
Trainer Greg Hope did not need to be anywhere near a racetrack or even in the training sulky for one of his most anticipated recent moments in harness racing.
The southern thoroughbred racing industry has taken a hit with the downgrading of this season's White Robe Lodge Handicap at Wingatui from group 3 to listed status.
Premiership winning jockey Chris Johnson produced what can only be described as vintage Magic Johnson rides to score a quartet of wins at Oamaru yesterday.