Southland reinswoman Kirstin Barclay put on a driving master class and showed how her career in the sulky has gone full circle when winning both feature races on Riverton Cup day yesterday.
Some sweet manoeuvring from Barclay helped Paddy- proudfoot go from near last to the one-one, before sprinting to victory in the Riverton Cup.
The trainer-driver backed up that effort with an even more impressive steer when her daring front-running tactics behind Something's Burning paid off and the squaregaiter took out the feature trot at Ascot Park.
Barclay had the 5yr-old she trains with Paul "Tank" Ellis in front by about 12 lengths after the pair made a good beginning from the front mark.
Something's Burning maintained that break on the field in the middle stages, leaving the backmarkers Robbie Royale (30m), Majestic Man (50m) and Dark Horse (50m) with a big task.
The field got within three lengths of the leader before the home turn, but Barclay had rated her charge so well that Something's Burning had plenty in reserve in the straight.
The Majestic Son mare scored by two lengths over Robbie Royale and Majestic Man.
Barclay's bold front-running tactics were no fluke. She came up with her perfectly executed plan after Something's Burning worked sensationally leading into Saturday's 2700m event.
"I thought about it during the week, her work on the beach was phenomenal, it was unreal," Barclay said.
"And she was out of her grade against those other horses, so we had a head start.
"So, I thought we would have to run and make a race of it."
Paddyproudfoot showed his class when producing a big finish to win the Riverton Cup.
He gave away a serious race fitness advantage to some of his rivals, having not started since July ahead of the 2700m feature.
That did not show when the Washington VC pacer held out Kilowatt Kid and Franco Santino to win.
Paddyproudfoot's win not only added to his brilliant race record - five wins from 11 starts - but also earned him a trip to the New Zealand Cup carnival.
Barclay and Ellis will also consider taking Something's Burning to the carnival.
Barclay's brilliant driving at yesterday's meeting may have not been on show had her career not changed tack last season.
The horsewoman's 21 wins last term was more victories than in her previous 4 seasons.
Barclay has kept the wins coming after stepping into the sulky more often, and that gathered huge momentum when owner Tom Kilkelly wanted her to stick with injured sensation U May Cullect.
"It sort of started when Tom wanted me to drive the good horse," Barclay said.
"We have got some really nice horses here. Training is still more important to me than driving, but I know these horses pretty well and sometimes it is just easier to jump on yourself."
