Two of the veterans of the Ascot Park training ranks produced impressive winners on their home track yesterday.
Wayne Adams lined up one of the shortest-priced winners of his more than 30 years in training when Peroni sped away from his rivals to win race 1 at a $1.05 fixed odds win price.
Soon after, Murray Brown produced With A Bang to win a race named after him — race 3, the "Own A Share In With A Bang Mobile Pace".
Peroni is like a fine wine, rather than the fine ale which he is named after.
Time has been the key to the pacer getting better.
Peroni showed plenty of ability for Adams as far back as two years ago but had to be spelled because of soreness problems.
After 20 months away from racing, Peroni ran two excellent second placings before gaining a deserved win and rewarding Adams and partner Nancy Swain for their patience.
"I have always liked him, but he had soreness problems," Adams said.
"I just chucked him out in the paddock and he hasn’t been sore a day since he has come back in. It has just taken time."
Peroni has already proven himself in the next grade, having run a tidy second behind race-winner Duke Of Wellington in his previous start.
"He should do a good job. He has got speed and he has got a bit of stamina too.
"I will look for a junior driver’s race for him now."
Selected and purchased by Adams at the National Yearling Sales, Peroni scored courtesy of a dominating drive from Rory McIlwrick.
Peroni could clash with With A Bang in an upcoming Nugget graduation final following their wins yesterday.
With A Bang was also in front throughout for Brent Barclay as he powered to an impressive victory.
The "Own A Share In With A Bang Mobile Pace" was sponsored by the Tricode Racing Syndicate, which races the 2yr-old and has a strong association with trainer Murray Brown.
Brown, who prepared Please Shuddup to win five races for the group, sourced With A Bang from Canterbury breeder Brian West and he has liked the horse since he arrived at his stable.
"He has been a natural from day one," Brown said.
"I asked Brian to send down photos of the horses he had. This one didn’t make the yearling sales, but I quite liked him."
With A Bang went a big race in his only previous start, fighting out an epic home straight duel with Unsurpassable on Tuapeka Cup Day.
"He went good, but he wasn’t hardened to it.
"I gave him an easy week after that and took him back to the workouts.
"He will go into the next nugget finals now."
With A Bang scored by two and three-quarter lengths at the line over first starter Glorafilia.
