Matthew Williamson became the youngest driver to win a Harness Jewels race when he drove Leighton Hest to success in the group one $100,000 race for 4yr-old trotters on Saturday in his first season as a reinsman.
It was the third major win for Williamson (18).
He won the $75,000 Yearling Sales Trot with Diedre's Flash at Addington eight days earlier and the $30,000 group three Four-Year-Old Trotters' Championship at Addington in March with Leighton Hest.
They are among 26 wins this season for Williamson.
All bar one of his wins have been with trotters.
Matthew has gone one up on his brother, Nathan, who had just turned 19 when he drove Springbank Richard to win the race for 3yr-old trotters at the inaugural HJ at Ashburton in 2007.
Nathan drove 19 winners in his first season. Springbank Richard also won a HJ race at Cambridge last year.
Leighton Hest and Springbank Richard are in the stable operated by Phil and Bev Williamson at Oamaru where Matthew is employed.
"We just so feel so proud to see the family doing so well," Phil Williamson said.
Matthew said he was grateful for the driving opportunities he had been given by his parents.
"The more you drive, the better you get," he said.
Nathan transferred from the home stable this season to Southland to give Matthew the chance to make the grade.
Leighton Hest only began racing 12 months ago.
He has raced 10 times for seven wins and two placings.
He has earned stakes of $108,798 for owners Colin Campbell, of Dunedin, Peter and Katrina Noone, Don Dennison and Joan Paul, all of Palmerston and Alan Noone, of Mosgiel.
Campbell bred Leighton Hest from a mating of Dream Vacation and Whitney Hest and foaled him when he was living at Palmerston.
Whitney Hest, a Gee Whiz mare, had one unplaced start and went to stud as a 7yr-old in 2000.
Her first foal died and her only other registered progeny is Nordic Sun (two wins). She traces to Moccasin, who left top trotters Stylish Major and Le Chant for Mr Campbell's late father, Norman, in the 1960s.
Stylish Major won the 1968 Interdominion Trotting Final in Auckland and Le Chant won the NZ Trotting Championship the same year.
Moccasin was by Indianapolis, winner of the NZ Cup in three successive years from 1934.
Colin Campbell won the 1988 NZ Trotting Stakes with Robbie Hest and 10 races with Amy Hest, both members of the family.
• Dexter Dunn (19) equalled the record number of wins for a season when he drove Smiling Shard in the group one division for 2yr-old colts and geldings on Saturday.
Dunn has 161 wins this season, the tally achieved by Maurice McKendry 20 years ago.
• Sam Smolenski (24) drove Jinja Girl to win the group two event for 2yr-old trotters at his only drive for the day.
His other engagement, Our Princess Royal, was scratched because of a bone spur on a leg.
Jinja Gal was a $22,500 purchase by Grant Adamson, of Christchurch, at the premier yearling sale.
• Four reinsmen were fined for excessive use of the whip in the concluding stages at Ashburton on Saturday.
Alan Clark (The Fiery Ginga) was fined $400.
Andrew Neal (Trigirl Brigade), Jamie Keast (Continental Auto) and David Butt (Five Star Anvil) were each fined $300.
