The Fiery Ginga ran 2200m from a moving start in 2.50.6, the last 800m in 59.9. The well-performed trotter led against the one-win pacer, Sandals and finished three and a-half lengths clear in drizzle on a slushy track.
The mobile gate was not in use due to the conditions.
The Fiery Ginga won at Invercargill on August 12 after starting from 60m. He had won a trial in 2.49, better than track race record time, at Forbury Park six days earlier.
"He is bigger and stronger than he has ever been," Alan Clark, his trainer-driver, said.
The Fiery Ginga is off 30m over 2600m at Addington on Friday night.
Leighton Hest, who shares that mark, won a trial going away by two lengths yesterday in 3.32.9 for 2700m, the last 800m in 61.6. He was soon trailing the pacemaker Sunnivue Impulse and driver Andrew Faulks brought him out late in the run home.
He displayed no sign of exertion after the run. Faulks has been awaiting a suitable race for Leighton Hest since he won over 2600m (mobile) at Addington on July 13.
"I didn't want to start him from a long handicap and I wanted to space his races," Faulks said.
"The trial was ideal for him today where he was able to trail. He tends to go keenly in front."
Leighton Hest has won two of his three starts since joining Faulks after 18 months away from racing. Leighton Hest underwent surgery on a hind tendon. He was sent to Faulks for straight line training on the beach.
Dexter Dunn has indicated he will retain the drive on Leighton Hest in major races this spring.
Tagataese made a big impression when he qualified as a pacer yesterday in 2.53.2, 2.1sec inside the required time. He led and dashed clear by nine lengths in the closing stages. He is a 3yr-old Bettor's Delight-Titan Bloss gelding trained by Graeme Anderson and Amber Hoffman.
Ima Gold Digger, the winner of 15 races including the 2010 New Zealand Trotting Free-For-All and Trotters' Mile at Ashburton in 1.56.7, has been nominated for the Addington race. He has not raced for 16 months. He had his third workout win in a fresh preparation at Motukarara on Saturday.
He has also won a trial for trainers Allan and Lee Georgeson.
Pattisun, the six-win trotter with Faulks, has had setbacks in a fresh preparation. He was put aside after he won at Oamaru in September and underwent surgery to a hind suspensory.
He had been back in work 12 weeks when he pulled a muscle in a shoulder and he had to be boxed for 10 days. Three weeks ago he went sore in a hind leg which was attributed to him twisting it.
"He is right again," Faulks said.
• Jay Misbah, the leading South Island rider last season, resumes riding in New Zealand at the Timaru meeting on Friday.
Misbah, who won 62 races in NZ last season, departed for Malaysia after the Wingatui meeting on June 3. He rode two winners from a handful of rides in Malaysia.
