The pair raced Successful Way, but they were forced to retire the trotter when a wind problem emerged at the end of 2014.
Black said it was a problem that could not be operated on, so he and Duggan went searching for a replacement.
They bought Spinyback from Lauren Pearson early in the new year and the 11 starts before last night's win had yielded three seconds.
''We bought him cheap and he's done a good job for us really,'' Black said.
''That's just his go in life. He's a brilliant stand-start horse and he's done us a great turn.''
Cerato looks like a pacer with a bit of a future after his front-running win in race 3 last night - but the question is whether he realises it.
The McArdle gelding, owned by Syd and Shona Brown, of Mosgiel, was not all that interested in heading on to the track last night.
''He's still a bit green and has got a lot of growing to do. We couldn't get him out of the stall tonight,'' Hoffman said.
''Two [helpers] were pushing him from behind; he's pretty dumb.''
A heat of the South Of The Waitaki Winter Warmer series at Addington next week could be an option, although Hoffman is wary of backing him up too quickly.
''We won't race him every week as sometimes he can get a bit silly so we don't want to hype him up.''
Nova Time's maiden win last night was a family affair for Burnham trainer Jamie Gameson.
Gameson and his wife, Natalie, bought the Mach Three filly at a weanling sale, and got Natalie's brother, James Taylor, involved in the ownership.
''It's his first horse, so they will be pretty stoked.''
Another happy owner last night was Brad Williamson, who can shout morning tea - or pay off the bar tab from his 21st birthday party last month - after Kylie Castleton's win in the sole trotting race on the card.
Williamson owns the 4yr-old mare, and picked up a $3000 Harness Plus bonus on top of the $4375 winning stake last night.
He has a chance to add more to the kitty when he backs up Kylie Castleton in the Golden Girls Trotting Series heat at Timaru on Sunday, as he tries to qualify her for the final.
''She was going to run second the other day [at Rangiora] but she galloped and got disqualified.
''I think you have to run in the first three to be guaranteed a run in the final, so we'll definitely start her on Sunday and try to get money there.''
