An alternative way to source Bettor's Delight-type bloodlines has paid off for Mosgiel owner-breeders Syd and Shona Brown.
Misaki broke maiden ranks at Forbury Park last night at just her second start after blowing her chances with an early break at Wyndham on Sunday.
The 3yr-old filly loomed up to tackle leader Gina Grace on the turn last night and finished over the top of Flyingretna to give her sire, Shark Gesture, just his second New Zealand winner after Hopeful Harriet's win at Timaru on August 30.
The son of Cam Card's Shark stood for $4500 plus GST in the 2011-12 breeding season at Wai Eyre Farm, north of Christchurch.
''He was a great racehorse in America,'' Brown said.
''He's bred on the same cross as Bettor's Delight and he's a very strong horse, so I thought it was worth a bit of a punt, really.''
Shark Gesture earned almost US$3million ($NZ4.6million) during his racing career, winning eight of his 16 starts as a 3yr-old including the Breeders Crown final at Woodbine, and several more feature races as an older horse.
Former Dunedin reinsman Jonny Cox capped off a good day - and not a bad week - with a win behind the experienced maiden pacer, Waihemo Art.
Cox has a share in the 4yr-old thoroughbred gelding Buckwild, the winner of the rating 65 1335m at Gore yesterday for Westwood Beach trainer Amber Hoffman.
''It was nice for Amber to get the galloper home and the boys are pretty happy as well, so it's a good day all round,'' Cox said.
Buckwild's win continued a winning trend in Southland for Cox after he steered home three winners at the Wyndham meeting.
Waihemo Art had racked up the kilometres over his 29 previous starts, racing as far north as Manawatu, along with starts in the Nelson and Buller regions.
However, it was his last-start ninth in the $31,360 Show Day Futurity (2600m) won by Ashton K which gave Cox some confidence.
''He raced in that futurity on Friday and they went 3.13.0, so it was a big drop back for him tonight.''
Experiment was also dropping back from New Zealand Cup week racing, but her trainer, Tony Barron, just wishes she could produce her best form north of the Waitaki River.
The Sundon mare was back in the winner's circle for the first time since April, and Barron will test her out again with a run on the grass at Orari next weekend.
''I wish she could take her Southland and Dunedin form to Addington,'' Barron said.
He was quick to add he was not disappointed with the mare's seventh behind Waterloo Sunset last week, considering she broke at the start.
''She went very good last Friday - I just took her home and jogged her and she went super tonight.
''We'll have another crack next week except we'll go the other way and go to Geraldine.''
