Doing a friend a favour paid winning dividends for trainer Alister Black when Cruise Maguire produced a sparkling winning debut at Ascot Park yesterday.
The 3-year-old raced right up to his brilliant recent trial at the same venue to win the second heat of the Southern Supremacy Stakes Series for driver Brad Williamson.
Williamson developed Cruise Maguire before he was bought by owner Elaine Carnie on Black’s recommendation.
The deal came after Black liked what he saw in the pacer when he helped Williamson out by donning his farrier’s apron.
"I was in Cromwell for the Christmas meeting, and Brad’s blacksmith had hurt himself, so I put a set of shoes on him.
"I asked Brad ‘what’s this one?’ and he said he owned him himself.
"I said ‘by gee he is a nice type’, then we watched him trial."
Another step along the way that led Black and Carnie to securing Cruise Maguire was the cancellation of the trainer’s flight on the morning of last year’s national yearling sales.
"I was meant to buy Elaine a horse at the yearling sales 12 months ago, but unfortunately I got fogged in at the airport.
"Elaine said if you see one that you like going, let me know.
"It has worked out great for everybody, really."
Williamson bought Cruise Maguire for $18,000 at the National Yearling Sales in Christchurch the previous year.
Although the pacer was from a proven family, he was initially passed in.
Williamson set up Cruise Maguire’s big debut win by letting him run to an early lead in Wednesday’s heat. The 3-year-old then went head-to-head with the favourite Stumblin In in what was a stirring last 600m.
Black made it a double later on the Ascot Park card when The Real Crunch scored at big odds for junior driver Georgia Goodman.
