Pulp Fiction began the long journey to Kaikoura in just the right fashion at Oamaru yesterday.
His Riversdale trainer, Tony Stratford, has the $50,000 PGG Yearling Sales Aged Pace at Kaikoura on November 2 in mind for the smart 4yr old.
Yesterday's win over some well credentialled rivals in a c2 c4 pace gives Stratford plenty of confidence to press on with his plans.
''At the end of the day it was his first run up and it was a good field,'' Stratford said.
Driver Dexter Dunn was patient with the son of Art Major, holding his run for as late as possible to avoid the breeze down the back straight.
''Dexter drove him perfectly - if he had gone earlier, he may have not got there,'' Stratford said.
''He looked after the horse and he was doing his best work in the last 100m.''
Dunn was pleased to team up for the seventh winning occasion with a pacer he described as a ''cool wee horse''.
''He's pretty versatile - he's got that whippet speed but he's been pretty tough in the lower grades.
''He peaked on his run about 100m to go - he was that wide around the bend and I had to put in a run from about the 450m.''
Pulp Fiction's dam, Joys Underworld, won four races in her career, but the breeding lines were even smarter with the winner of the maiden trot.
Sheemon looks like one of the leading hopes for the spring trotting features, but it was his brother taking centre stage at Oamaru yesterday.
Fratellino, a full brother by Monarchy to Sheemon, was on debut yesterday, but showed enough in his win to suggest he will do the family name proud during his career.
The 4yr old is owned by trainer Kevin Townley's wife, Margaret, and daughter, Hayley Wall, who also share in the ownership of Sheemon.
The breeding is not bad either with Amazon Lily - another debut winner yesterday.
The daughter of Bettor's Delight is out of The Blue Lotus, a half sister to five time group 1 winner and stallion Tintin In America.
Her driver, Blair Orange, said a bold debut was expected as long as she remained switched on.
''She's one of those ones that waits for them a bit, but when it comes to business time, she knuckles down a bit.
''She's just a lovely Bettor's Delight filly. She's probably a step below the classic ones but we'll give her a chance in a couple of races and see where we are at.''
Feather Boyz might as well have been on debut compared with his race fit rivals, but he amazed his trainer, Eian Lamb, when he won the c2 c7 trot having had just one public run since his last race on May 1.
''One workout - that's all he's had. He always felt good in work, but for the preparation he's had, he shouldn't have won that. He's something else - he's really determined.''
