A mix of up-and-coming horses and more hardy winter gallopers stepped out for yesterday's four-heat programme.
Though punters could be rewarded quickly by some runners, others will be heading straight to the spelling paddock.
The Brian and Shane Anderton-trained, Galella, was among those who signalled they were ready to step out at the races with her stylish win in the 1000m open heat.
The 6yr-old got back in the running, but once rider Courtney Barnes peeled her to the outside of the track she let downstrongly.
Galella's stablemate, Perceptive, fought on for second, half a length behind the winner. The Allan Stalker-trained Westerly, who took third place, was another length away.
Galella would be aimed at a Wingatui race within the next two weeks. That means next Friday or a Wingatui's June 4 meeting, depending on which had the more suitable race, Brian Anderton said.
The Anderton stable also won the opening event with Crispin, who stepped out with four of his promising stablemates over 600m. All were sired by Raise The Flag.
Crispin held out Antariya by half a length at the finish and Flag Duty was another length away.
Antariya is the last foal from 10-race winner and multiple black-type race-performing mare De Montford.
Brian Anderton was pleased with his quartet, who took their first step towards their race careers, he said.
Punters wanting to follow the beginners are likely to get more chances to see them at jumpouts before they compete on race day.
A trainer at the opposite end of her career took won the next heat.
Omakau horsewoman Bridget Emerson took out her training licence this season and may have produced a horse at Wingatui yesterday who could give her her first winner. The unnamed filly by Battle Point from Dubai Century sped up the inside of the track to beat her maiden rivals with Corey Campbell the rider.
Campbell was impressed with the filly's effort and thought she would improve from the run.
The Dennis brothers and Robert Dennis produced a Darci Brahma filly from The Dazzler for a stylish win in the second of two maiden heats over 800m.
Again, those want to follow an impressive type will need to be patient.
The winner will not be sighted at the races any time soon, as she will head for a spell and be prepared for a spring campaign, her trainers said.
That will also be the case for another Darci Brahma filly from The Pearler the Southland trainers produced in the previous heat.
She was unable to show her best after her saddle slipped under Jacob Lowry. However, the stable rates her in similar regard to her stablemate.
-By Jonny Turner
Results.-
Track: slow, weather: overcast.
Heat 1, maiden 600m: Crispin, C Barnes 1, Antariya 2, Flag Duty 3. Trainers: B and S Anderton. Time: 36.56sec. Margins ½l, 1L. 4 started.
Heat 2, maiden 800m: Battle Paint-Dubai Century, C Campbell 1, The Kraken 2, Squizzy 3. Trainer: B Emerson. Time 50.44sec. Margins ½L, 3L. 5 started.
Heat 3, maiden 800m: Darci Brahma-The Dazzler, S Muniandy 1, Darci Brahma-Bellonet 2, Buffalo Man-Double Take 3. Trainers: Dennis Bros & R Dennis. Time 50.53. Margins 1L, 2L. 6 started.
Heat 4, open 1000m: Galalla, C Barnes 1, So Gallant 2, Westerly 3. Trainers: B & S Anderton. Time 1.02.39. Margins L, 1L. 5 started.
