Quality Invasion won his first two starts at Methven and Addington in October 2009 when trained by Tim Butt and Phil Anderson. Quality Invasion was then away from racing until January due to a knee injury. Now trained by his owner and breeder Bruce Graham at Charing Cross, the 7yr-old gelding was having his seventh start back from his lay-off.
He trailed the pacemaker, Commander Jewel and came along the passing lane to win by two and a-quarter lengths.
Quality Invasion made the trip to Dunedin, rather than racing closer to home at Addington tonight.
He needed a trip away and the rugby is on tomorrow night, Sally Graham, a daughter of the owner, said.
Sally and her partner Damian Love brought Quality Invasion south.
Quality Invasion was one of two drives last night for Samantha Ottley, who has enhanced her driving record since joining the stable of Colin and Julie De Filippi two months ago.
Trainer Mark Jones said Commander Jewel would be turned out, rather than pursuing a start in the Australasian Breeders Crown.
She has just had enough racing and she is a big girl, Jones said.
• Liquidity, who finished third to Royal Courage and Raven last night, was claimed for $3000. Darryl Walker made the trip from Pukekohe to claim the 6yr-old. He said Liquidity would join the Pukekohe stable of Rhys Fensom.
Royal Courage was racing in the ownership of Joan Braam, of Dunedin. She claimed the horse for $3000 at Forbury Park on June 23 and transferred the 6yr-old to Geoff and Judy Knight at Roxburgh.
• Flyin Courage won the junior drivers race in the hands of Carl Hanna. It was the fourth win for Flyin Courage, who is raced by Ben Fraser and his sister, Mel Fraser, both from Oamaru, with Tony Crosbie and Kevin Krammer, both of Nelson.
• Bet Away was relegated from first to last in race 5 last night. She was the subject of an objection from the stipendiary stewards after shifting out around the home turn. She came in contact with Magic Edition, who went off stride.
