The trotter broke through for his first win since May 2023 in what was clearly his hardest assignment since returning from more than two years out with injury.
Madrik shocked punters with his win at $41 odds but there were signs he was edging towards better form in the most recent of his six runs back at the races for trainer-driver Kirstin Green.
"He went a good race when he ran third two starts ago, but then in his last start he just panicked and got it wrong.
"When he sees other horses making mistakes he freaks out a bit.
"He worked on the beach this week behind one of our other horses who was galloping in front of him and it was really nice work.
"I was hoping he could go a nice race, but to win is awesome."
Madrik is raced by Southlanders Tom and Julie Kilkelly and Rickie Collis.
Bred by Tom Kilkelly from his grand producer The Fiery Filly, Madrik has inherited an unfortunate family trait.
While she can clearly leave talented trotters, most of The Fiery Filly’s foals have been injury-prone.
"Smokin Bandar had problems with his hocks and Fiery Bandito broke a pastern.
"This guy has had tendon issues."
A rising star before his injury, Fiery Bandito is on the comeback trail under a regime of beach training with Bob Butt.
Madrik has notched all of his five victories in front and when he made a good beginning in yesterday’s feature, Green took control of the race.
The 8-year-old dug deep in the home straight to win by a nose over runner-up Domination’s Call.
Madrik’s win was Green’s 26th of the year and it has come during something of a rebuilding phase for both the trainer and her major owners, the Kilkellys.
"We won 24 races by wintertime. We’ve had a lot of horses move on and now we have a lot of young ones coming through," Green said.
Green reined home a winning treble at Wingatui on Sunday, also driving Tillaberi and Insarchatwist to victory.
Insarchatwist’s full brother Hacksaw Ridge went down fighting in the Forbury Pacers Cup, running second to Rock Or Bust.
The feature race victory was one of two for trainers Steve and Amanda Telfer, who also scored with Bettor Off.
The winning double took the Telfers to 164 training wins in 2025.
The brother and sister training partners are now just four wins short of equalling the late Roy and Barry Purdon’s national record for wins in a season, set in 1994.
