The southern delicacies known as Jimmy's Pies might have an extra dash of enthusiasm in them today after Gene Time won a maiden pace at Oamaru yesterday.
The win on the grass not only broke a two-month winning drought for Roxburgh trainers Geoff and Jude Knight, but gave the Kirkpatrick family - who own Jimmy's Pies in Roxburgh - their first victory as outright owners.
Geoff Knight said the bakery stopped work briefly so everyone could watch the race.
The Knights had tried a new approach with the Bettor's Delight mare in recent weeks to ensure they kept on top of her solid frame.
"Since last Thursday, we've galloped her every day,'' Knight said.
"I galloped her a mile in 1.55 two days ago and she absolutely loved it. Matty [Williamson, driver] kept saying to keep working her.''
The Kirkpatricks - husband Dennis, wife Jean and sons Bernard and Daniel - had won a maiden claiming race in a syndicate with Thinking Smart but they wanted one to race on their own.
"They asked me to lease one for them, so I called up Dave Heffernan and this one was available,'' Knight said.‘‘She's no world-beater, but they've had a lot of fun with her.''
After the highs of 40 wins last season, harness racing has been a great leveller for the Knights.
A lactic acid problem laid their team low in the spring.‘
"We've had those trying times with sickness and stuff and things just haven't gone our way, but hopefully we're on the right track now and the monkey's off our back.''
Gene Time's win was one of four for Oamaru driver Matthew Williamson, including two for Levels trainer Murray Tapper.
It was Tapper's first raceday double in 24 seasons of harness training.
Tapper prepared Ottawa to win the c2 to c7 handicap trot in the latter half of the card, but Stylish Duke looks like one to follow in the grades after his maiden win - provided he calms down.
The gelding was sweating up badly in the warm conditions at Oamaru yesterday, but overcame his battles to win well at just his second start.
"He's got a bit of a motor,'' Tapper said.
"He's just got to learn - he's a lot like Mike Tyson. He wants to get it over and done with in the first 200 or 300m. He just wants to get into it and he's not ready yet.''
Tapper said the 4yr-old qualified 12 months ago for owner Anne Patterson, who also raced the Dominion winner, Stylish Monarch, with Tapper.
"But there was always an issue somewhere with him, and in the end we had to take him to [Canterbury veterinarian] Bill Bishop and now he's got four screws in one leg. Otherwise he would have been going as a 3yr-old.''
Ringcraft is not an issue for Cullect A Guinness, who continued his dream run on the grass with a comfortable 1-length win in the Oamaru Cup over 3000m.
Yesterday's cup was over the same distance as the Canterbury Country Cups Final at Methven on March 20, which looms as an obvious target for the 5yr-old.
