It was the White Robe Lodge show at the Otago Racing Club's jumpouts at Wingatui yesterday.
All five heats were won by White Robe's training team of Brian and Shane Anderton, although that is no surprise, as the father-and-son team prepared 13 of the 16 horses taking their place on a sunny Wingatui morning.
The 1000m maiden heats proved difficult to split and dead heats were declared between Apache Guru and Galella in the first heat and Perceptive and Waylay in the second.
Taieri Whisper claimed the third heat with a tidy finish to down Flying Agent in 49.29 for the 800m dash before Forever Vital held off Gallant Defender in the 800m, despite a good fightback from the 4yr-old gelding.
Co-trainer Shane Anderton said Forever Vital might start her new campaign at Gore on January 23.
Gallant Defender impressed in the spring, winning twice at Wingatui before finishing well back on the last day of the New Zealand Cup carnival at Riccarton.
"He did good,'' Anderton said.
"He just got on top of it a wee bit, so we backed off and he's ready to go again now. He'll probably go to that next Christchurch meeting, everything going right.''
A rating 75 1600m at Riccarton on January 30 is a possibility for the promising 4yr-old.
Brian Anderton said the majority of the runners in the first two heats could start at Gore on February 3.
Ascot Park trainer Sabin Kirkland brought two horses to the jumpouts and went home pleased enough with their efforts.
Queenofharpz, a recent addition to the stable from John Bary's Hastings establishment, finished third behind Taieri Whisper and will probably be back at Wingatui on February 6.
"She'll hopefully be back here for a go at that $20,000 maiden race. She's got enough points to get in there,'' Kirkland said.
An unnamed 2yr-old perhaps even surprised Kirkland a little when she finished three lengths behind Isla and Hessonite in the 600m sprint.
"It's her first time off the place,'' he said.
"Just as long as she went through the gates and got her barrier certificate, I was happy, especially as she was up against older horses.''
The daughter of Coats Choice is a full sister to Dezzies Dream, who placed third in the One Thousand Guineas in November, and Kirkland said he had not asked her for much at this stage.
"It's probably only her second gallop, so I'm very happy with her. We might look at - if she doesn't go shin-sore - probably February, then a nice 2yr-old race here later on in March.''
Results. - Weather, fine; track, good; course proper.1000m maiden: Apache Guru C Barnes 1=, Galella T Direen 1=, Heed The Flag 3. Three started. Time, 1.03.00. Dead heat, L. Trainers, B and S Anderton.1000m maiden: Perceptive T Direen 1=, Waylay C Barnes 1=, Bella Mac 3. Three started. Time, 1.08.43. Dead heat, lg nk. Trainers, B and S Anderton.800m maiden: Taieri Whisper T Direen 1, Flying Agent 2, Queenofharpz 3. Four started. Time, 49.29. L, 1L. Trainers, B and S Anderton.800m open: Forever Vital T Direen 1, Gallant Defender 2, Ablaze 3. Three started. Time, 51.08. Ns, 2L. Trainers, B and S Anderton.600m maiden/inexperienced: Isla R Roy 1, Hessonite 2, 2f Coats Choice-Sparkling All Over 3. Three started. Time, 37.96. L, 3L. Trainers, B and S Anderton.
