Lock's last win on the Dunedin track was with Sonny Albert in May 2007. The drought-breaker had been looming, as Blazing Bracelet and Lock's trotter, Snow Boy, have been running regular placings.
Lock said driver Rory Mc-Ilwrick was developing a good combination with the Courage Under Fire 6yr-old.
''Rory's starting to relax more and the horse is starting to relax more,'' he said.
''He's your traditional Courage Under Fire and I just don't want to fire him up early.''
McIlwrick was pleased to have Blazing Bracelet in the right spot for a chance of running down Nothingforthemedia.
''It's just all mental with him,'' McIlwrick said of the winner.
''He's got a fantastic sprint on him for that last furlong. If they go hard, he'll always come over the top of them.
''He does a few things wrong, but if he gets the right trip, he's hard to beat.''
McIlwrick repaid Lock's loyalty with last night's win. Lock has been providing the junior driver with plenty of drives in recent months.
''He's always here, and he's doing his best, and he gets a few placings,'' McIlwrick said of the trainer.
''It's good for him to get a bit of luck.''
Brotherly rivalry
Trainer-driver Nathan Williamson won three races on the card to get to 64 driving wins for the season, one behind his younger brother, Matthew.
Matthew won with Smokin Bird. Nathan is going on holiday shortly so he does not expect to beat Matthew, but was keen to point out Matthew had driven in an extra 230 races this season.
Williamson got his night off to a flying start, with Poppymalda and Leo winning the first two races.
Williamson bought Poppymalda, an Armbro Invasion filly, off Mike De Filippi as a yearling, partly based on breeding.
Poppymalda is out of a half-sister to dual Ordeal Cup winner Sundowner Bay (18 wins).
''He [De Filippi] rang me and asked if I had anyone interested in a nicely-bred trotter. I had a look at her myself and liked what I had seen, so I took a share myself and got some owners in.''
Williamson is joined in the ownership by Ross and Robyn Jones, who operate the Kina Craig Stud near Gore, New Zealand Metropolitan Trotting Club chairman Barry Dent and his mother, Pearl Dent.
Williamson said Poppymalda was ''just learning and she's very green. She's only had a couple of trials and there have only been a couple in them''.
Williamson is playing a good caretaker role with Sheeza Shark, whose regular trainer and part-owner, Austin Stack, is on holiday in Mexico.
''He's back next week, so I'll say we'll line up next week.
''Depending on the result . . . we might put her out for a break.''
Horseman remembered
Smokin Bird's classy win in a c0 2200m pace was tinged with sadness as Kevin and Pat Court remembered their son, Ryan.
Ryan Court (35), a keen horseman, died after an incident at Craft Bar in the Octagon in April.
''He broke this one in,'' Kevin Court said after the race.
''She's always been a nice horse.''
Smokin Bird's siblings, High Courage, Whos Escaped and Slick Bird, have all won in Australia.
Ayoub appointed
John Ayoub has been appointed as the general manager of the Forbury Park Trotting Club.
Ayoub (59) has a wide-ranging working background including hospitality and event management, and replaces Zelda Jordan, who resigned in April.
Dunedin-born Ayoub, who returned to Dunedin last October after almost 30 years away, begins his new job on July 3.
A full profile will follow.
