With McGrath in the sulky, Maverick nosed out his stablemate, My Wee Man, at the finish to also give the trainer the feature-race quinella.
Maverick raced parked outside the leader, giving his stablemate the one-one for the last lap, but was too strong and overturned his last start Methven Cup flop to win.
Canterbury trainers won five of yesterday’s 10 races with two of those victories going to Temuka trainer Brent White.
White produced 3yr-old filly Machitelli for an impressive debut win in race 3 for driver Stephen McNally. Patience has been essential in developing the Mach Three filly and White plans to continue to look after her.
Though Machitelli showed promised as a 2yr-old the trainer resisted the urge to race her too soon.
"She has come back and she is probably a wee way away [from her best] yet. She has just had a wee growing spurt lately, so we will just take our time with her."
White hopes the filly, who was likely to have her next run in a Southland graduation final on December 9, can develop into a Southland Oaks prospect.
The trainer also scored with 9yr-old mare Xmas Joyella in race 6 for driver Mikayla Lewis.
The trotter entered White’s stable after being with Fred Morris in the hope of providing Lewis with more raceday driving opportunities.
Lewis got her start in harness racing at Morris’ Yaldhurst stable before shifting south to Temuka to work for White.
