Wot The Owl had won four races in his previous eight starts when trained at Invercargill by Andrew Armour for a group of Invercargill owners.
He had been claimed out of a race at New Plymouth.
The 8yr-old gelding has won his last three races on end.
He won four races when trained at Thames by Peter Young.
• Spin Doctor added to the great record of broodmare Janetta's Pride when he overcome an early lapse to win a maiden trot last night.
Spin Doctor had been transferred to the Burnham trainer Mark Jones two weeks earlier after four unplaced starts for Kyle (Jock) Austin.
Spin Doctor is the eighth winner left by Janetta's Pride.
A 6yr-old by Sundon, he is a brother to the well-performed Ima Gold Digger, Dependable, Jo Anne and Shirley Temple.
Janetta's Pride has left 15 foals for her Ashburton owners, Keith and Bevan Grice, who lease their horses for racing.
Spin Doctor is raced by Jock and Wendy Austin with Gavin and Sharon Glover, all of Christchurch.
Jock Austin raced Nutwood, a capable free-legged pacer who also performed well in North America.
Spin Doctor left stride in the early stages and lost some 60m.
Blair Orange improved Spin Doctor to be handy at the 1000m, reached the lead at the 250m and won by two and a-half lengths.
"He just needs to get his head round the racing business," Orange said.
Donegal Chokin, racing in the same ownership as Donegal Delight, led throughout 2200m for a comfortable win.
The 3yr-old who was placed in two of his three starts as a 2yr-old last season, is raced by his Kaikoura breeder Murray Boyd.
• Donegal Chokin is the first foal of Chokin Hanover (Christian Cullen-Bhutan) who won four races.
Donegal Delight, who won eight races last season, has just resumed work with Cran Dalgety, the trainer of Donegal Chokin. She was spelled after her last-start win at Addington on July 13.
• Leif Erikson, backed down to $1.20, won convincingly, despite locking wheels in the run home. Driver Jonny Cox extricated the wheel from the sulky of Highly Delighted near the 200m and Leif Erikson surged clear by a length. An inquiry into the race was focused on alleged interference in the run home by Blackleugh, who finished third.
