Coming back for more is a winning formula for some of the connections of Cromwell Cup winner Cyclone Kiwi.
The 4yr-old produced a huge run down the outside of the quick Cromwell track to give half the members of the 10-share Cyclone Kiwi Syndicate a familiar feeling.
Syndicate member Wayne Stapley, of Christchurch, said half the owners also owned Smiling Star, the 2013 winner of the Cromwell Cup.
Stapley used the winnings from Smiling Star, who earned just over $106,000 before being exported to Western Australia late last year, to buy his share of Cyclone Kiwi and said others in the syndicate may have done the same.
The son of Jereme's Jet was knocked down for $20,000 at the 2012 yearling sales. Hamish Scott and Kim Lawson, who raced the close relative Kiwi Ingenuity (11 wins, $491,821), were in the ownership, Stapley said.
But all this background information would have been moot if it was not for the sheer speed of Cyclone Kiwi, who was last in the 10-horse field with 600m to go after trainer-driver Robbie Holmes had to go to plan B.
''I thought I might just pop round them but that backfired on me a little bit, so I had to go back with a round to go,'' he said.
''But it all turned out pretty well.''
Holmes sent Cyclone Kiwi forward to begin his final run shortly before the turn, as he was conscious of having to chase the leading horses over the last 400m:''I had to get going pretty early because they can run 29 seconds off the front and you've got to run 28 or better.
''It's been a good run - he's just continued to improve.''
Holmes is now considering a trip to Blenheim for the Marlborough Cup meeting later this month, although he may look at options in Southland instead.
Holmes also trained and drove Tehoro Holly to win the maiden trot - although the circumstances could not have been more different.
The CR Commando mare got to the lead quickly from the 2600m start point, and was attacked regularly but held on to beat Ruby's Jewel on the line.
''She's done a good job - she's got stronger,'' Holmes said.
''Her and Tehoro Ruby have been in the same category, really, making their way up through the maiden ranks and they've both gone through now.''
The margin between Tehoro and Ruby's Jewel was just a nose, in stark contrast to the 25-length winning margin for Bet's Sun in the c1-c3 trot.
The enigmatic 6yr-old was out to a 20-length lead very quickly and slowly lengthened it over the 2600m to leave daylight between himself and the rest of the field.
When asked if he had trained a winner to a similar margin, trainer Phil Williamson said Bet's Sun only other win was one that sprang to mind.
However, that win, at Ascot Park last April, was by the comparatively slim margin of 14 lengths.
Williamson was particularly pleased for the owners, Geoff Dunn and Dave and Irina McCracken, of Christchurch.
''He's got quite a bit of ability as you can see. It's just good to see he's still got it.''
