Mark Harris, who renewed his trainer's licence three weeks ago, won the $50,000 Canterbury Breeders' Stakes at yesterday.
The Tuahiwi-based Harris races Minnaloushka with Rob Johnstone, of Hindon and Mike Boissard, of Waiau.
Harris and Johnstone played polo together for several years.
"We got together over dinner one time and decided to buy a mare to breed a listed race winner," Harris recalled.
The aim was realised yesterday when Minnaloushka won at odds of 46-to-one in the hands of Chris Johnson.
The mare was Russian Embassy.
The daughter of Encosta De Lago cost $1000 as a 2yr-old at the 2003 South Island sale in Christchurch.
Russian Embassy won three races when trained by Paul Harris and she left Minnaloushka to a mating with Black Minnaloushe.
Harris trained many years ago with his father, Ray, and brother Paul, then gave it away to tour the world playing polo for about 20 years.
He was also a member of the team who won the New Zealand open championship three times.
He now has 12 horses in work and is in the process of syndication.
John Bary, who trained Jimmy Choux to win the $1 million Two Thousand Guineas on Saturday, also has a background in polo.
Johnstone, who has a Limousin cattle stud, was doing tractor work on his farm yesterday.
His wife, Jean, represented him at Riccarton.
Their son, Clarke, is in the New Zealand eventing team who won a bronze medal at the equestrian games in Kentucky in September.
Minnaloushka won a maiden race when trained by Paul Harris and she was an upset winner at Riccarton last month for Mark.
Johnson (46) won the Canterbury Breeders' Stakes on Arda Rose 25 years ago.
He has also won the race on Covered n' Grey in 1994 and 1995.
Tiger displayed ability in keeping with his dam, Horlicks, when he won a maiden race at Riccarton yesterday.
Tiger came from last at the 400m in a 14-horse field to win over 1400m.
A striking type of 4yr-old gelding by One Cool Cat, Tiger is the last foal of Horlicks, who included the 1989 Japan Cup among her wins.
Tiger, who was having his eighth start, is raced by his Hastings breeder, Graham de Gruchy, with his Riccarton trainer, Terri Rae.
Horlicks has left 13 foals, including Brew, who won the 2000 Melbourne Cup.
Bubble was another of her progeny.
Noel Harris and Casey Lunn admitted charges of careless riding at Riccarton yesterday with the hearings adjourned in both cases until Saturday.
Harris, the rider of Fritzy Boy, shifted in and crowded Royal Flight, Alagant Satin and Rochallen at the 1400m in the Coupland's Mile.
Lunn, riding Matryoshka, shifted in at the 1000m in race 12 and checked Bellonet, Figure Again and Platinum Dancer.
Moveovr pulled up lame with a tendon injury after the Stewards' Handicap.
Tina Comignaghi did not ride yesterday as she was unwell.
Trainers Michael Pitman and Kevin Myers were each fined $100 for presenting Kimberley Boy and Balaq respectively without notified gear.
Kylie Williams was fined $150 for misconduct.
