Harness racing is not making an appearance at Wingatui until a dual-code meeting next March, but some of the Otago harness racing fraternity went out to the Taieri Plain for an early raid on Saturday.
Cross-code trainer Amber Hoffman produced Enchanter to win at his fourth career start when he bettered Thorn Majic in the closing 100m in the 1600m maiden. It was Hoffman's first win as a trainer in her own right after six wins in partnership with Graeme Anderson.
The weekend was topped off in the harness code by Jaccka Justy's win in the group 3 D G Jones Trotting Cup at Motukarara courtesy of a clever drive from Hoffman's harness training partner, Jonny Cox.
But the harness racing connection does not end there. Forbury Park trainer Daryl Trainor, Invercargill trainer-driver Andrew Armour and Forbury Park assistant starter Aaron Johnston are in The Boys Plus Mum Syndicate.
The ''mum'' is Oamaru harness racing identity Bev Williamson, who is joined by two of her sons - drivers Nathan and Matthew - in the ownership.
Yesterday's victory continues a dream run for Armour, who drove three winners at the Ascot Park harness meeting on Friday and is in the middle of preparations for his wedding to Shannon Lilley in Invercargill in late October.
Enchanter had two unplaced runs in the North Island earlier this year before Hoffman took over the training.
''I got him down from the North Island, and the boys had always wanted a galloper, so I called them up, and they were all keen,'' Hoffman said.
Enchanter is Hoffman's first training win on her own account after she prepared seven winners in partnership with Graeme Anderson from 2007 to 2011.
''He's trained on the beach all the time - he comes out here every now and then - but we lead him off the trotters and everything,'' Hoffman said.
''He doesn't need much work. He's a big lazy bugger.''
There was nothing lazy about Jaccka Justy's win as Hoffman and Cox's weekend went from good to fantastic.
The Continentalman gelding galloped away from the start of the 2810m grass track feature, and was still looking for a gap with 300m to go before Cox found room out wide to beat a star-studded field of trotters by 1 lengths.
''He really grabbed the bit, got out at the right time and showed what he can do.''
Jaccka Justy has shown his electrifying sprint on occasion in the past but Cox was pleased to find it was there yesterday.
''That's always looked good down south when they've gone a little bit slower, and it's just taken time for him to adjust to the speed they race up here.''
The win was the first group success for Cox and Hoffman as trainers, and Cox's second as a driver following his winning drive behind Ballindooley's win in the Forbury Park 4 & 5yr-old championship this year.
''It's always special to train and drive your own horse to a group win, so it's unreal.''
Reality will have sunk in for Cox and Hoffman by the time Otago Daily Times readers pick up the paper this morning.
''By the time we get home, it will be 11pm and we'll probably need to be on the beach just after 5am,'' Cox said last night.
