Maui delivered a big thrill for the McCormick family when running to a deserved win in the feature trot at Roxburgh yesterday.
The brilliantly consistent squaregaiter did enough to hold out the late challenge of runner-up Vertigo to seal a father and son quinella for trainer-drivers David and Lawrence McCormick.
While David took top honours in the family’s great result, he resisted the chance to make full use of the bragging rights he had over his son following his victory.
Instead, the Canterbury horseman was thrilled his family produced a one-two finish in the fast-class event for trotters at Roxburgh.
For Maui, it was a case of him having his turn to shine at Roxburgh following a run of powerful efforts in strong fields recently.
"He’s been racing good for the last six weeks or so, and he just keeps getting better and better," David McCormick said.
Maui and Vertigo will both head to tomorrow’s Cromwell meeting, the last of the three-day Central Otago summer circuit.
With Maui having pulled up well from his Roxburgh victory and Vertigo being a grass-track specialist, there looks no reason why the pair cannot deliver the McCormicks more success.
"He will be a good chance at Cromwell, you’d think," McCormick said.
"He loves the grass and Lawrence’s horse loves the grass, too.
"We might be able to do it again."
Their one-two finish enabled the McCormicks to fill a race-day quinella for the first time in their career.
Kikorangi Blue turned yesterday’s Roxburgh Cup into a one-act affair with a powerful front-running performance to win.
The mare made one of her customary smart beginnings which set up her front-running victory for trainer Bob Butt and driver Brent Barclay.
Butt stationed the mare in the south with Barclay and his partner, Lauren Pearson, before the pacer’s Roxburgh Cup tilt.
Judging by the horse’s work and her victory, Kikorangi Blue has thrived at her temporary base at Winton.
"We didn’t have a lot of luck, but her work has been terrific this week so we were expecting a bold showing," Barclay said.
Kikorangi Blue’s victory has earned her a shot at the upcoming group 1 and group 2 mares’ feature races at Addington.
