That is the attitude yesterday's feature trot winner, Miracle
Rising is taking.
The horse brought the three race-winning streak of Playboy's Brother down by out-speeding him in the straight.
Miracle Rising is the younger half-brother of Temporale who has stamped himself as New Zealand's best trotter with a hat-trick of group-race wins during December and January.
Rangiora trainer-driver Gavin Smith is of the opinion Miracle Rising is destined to join his older half-brother in open class.
''I think so. He has got the speed. Whether he is a good [open class horse] it is hard to know, but he will work his way there,'' Smith said.
''He is probably not quite ready for open class yet.''
The horse was ''probably a bit like Temporale'' who just kept getting better and better.
Miracle Rising was set to show his best during the New Zealand Cup carnival in November but after a poor showing was found to be suffering from a lung infection, Smith said.
Though that was treated, it resurfaced and was to blame for another poor run at Geraldine.
After further treatment the horse was finally set for yesterday's race.
The ease of his victory and the fact he had not had a trial or workout leading into the race suggests punters will see an even better Miracle Rising in his next start.
How many of his future starts will be in New Zealand will be up to his large group of owners
With his strong bloodlines and excellent race record, overseas buyers are lining up to get their hands on the squaregaiter.
''There has been a bit of interest in him. With the sales in a month's time we could roll on and get another one but we will have to talk to the owners,'' Smith said.
Smooth Mara stamped himself as a country cups horse in the next race on the Oamaru card.
The pacer made it two wins from two starts from Graeme Anderson's Westwood Beach stable with a bold front-running display in race 7.
With his solid standing-start manners and his above-average motor the horse would be suited to the country cups races in Otago and Southland, Anderson said.
Dexter Dunn broke a decade drought for Leeston trainer Stephen Blair when he saluted on Western Delight in race 4.
The victory was the trainer's first win since producing Race For The Stars to win at Forbury Park in 2007. The breeder-owner had started horses only 16 times in the seasons between his wins.
