It is not quite a case of rugby, racing and beer for the Prendergast family this week.
Instead it is cricket, racing and the possibility of a celebratory drink at the Forbury Park Trotting Club meeting tonight.
Hyde trainer Mick Prendergast lines up trotter Holdon Toyaspurs, a horse he races with his daughter, Tania, and neighbour Simon Russell.
Tania, described by her father as ''cricket mad'', made a trip across the Ditch to attend yesterday's one-day international between New Zealand and England at the University Oval (won in a thrilling finish by New Zealand).
Holdon Toyaspurs is entered in race 7
tonight, in which the South Island's best emerging drivers will combine with a line-up of largely aged trotters.
The oldest of the squaregaiters look have strong winning claims.
Ali Malcolmson's 12yr-old mare French Desire battled throughheavy conditions at last month's Waikouaiti meeting and comes into tonight's race on the back of placings of fourth and fifth.
She beat 10yr-old Holdon Toyaspurs in the second of those runs and they will clash again tonight.
Prendergast hopes his trotter can improve on his Waikouaiti runs when he was slowed down in the tricky going.
''He went a good race on the first day, but on the second day he got bogged down - he is a heavy horse and he got stuck in it.
''He is well and he is working well, and I am happy with him.''
Prior to his Waikouaiti runs, Holdon Toyaspurs had been in even better form and Prendergast credits Oamaru junior driver Charlotte Purvis with contributing to the horse's success.
''He has got good manners and gets away and puts himself in the race.''
His manners were his biggest advantage, Prendergast said.
Purvis is out of action through injury so her brother, Matt, will take the reins behind Holdon Toyaspurs tonight.
Several 8yr-olds also have claims in the 2200m race.
Och Aye The Noo went a good fourth in a much stronger field in her last start over 2000m at Oamaru on February 17, and Springbank Ella and Gorilla Playboy have claims, too.
The youngsters in tonight's race who will attempt to fend off older rivals include Pres The Belle, Fira and Say Your Pres.
Three scratchings have reduced tonight's fast-class trot to just seven runners.
The small field could enable the in-form Playboy's Brother to take up his favoured front-running role.
Another Oamaru trotter, Jeddy R Ya Ready, is one of two horses trainer Brad Williamson has in the race, and shares the 20m back mark with Playboy's Brother and Stylish Duke.
