HORSE RACING - Duo make wins a double

Hastings trainer Grant Cullen achieved a winning double with the only two horses he has racing now at last Thursday's Feilding meeting, at Awapuni.
Cullen produced Sandra Dee to win the $6000 Windsor Park Stud Maiden (1200m) and, one race later, took out the $6000 Alan Sanson Shearing Maiden (1200m) with Ben Hur.
Celebrating with Cullen were Waipukurau couple Allan and Colleen Wallbank, who have a major racing share in both horses.
They own Sandra Dee outright and head the Blazing Trails Family Trust, which races Ben Hur in partnership with Auckland-based Kasmin Daniel.
Sandra Dee was following up a good second over 1200m at Hastings on May 2 and had to overcome a wide draw. The Sandtrap filly was prominent throughout and when rider Andrew Calder asked her to accelerate at the top of the home straight she raced away for a 3 1/2-length win.
Ben Hur was fresh up from a spell, after a third over 1600m in his last race at the Levin Classic meeting at Otaki in November last year. The Minardi 1200m distance was expected to be too short for him. He had to overcome a check at the top of the home straight, but still managed to get up and win by a head.
Cullen has just four horses in work at the moment and the other two have yet to race. They are a three-year-old Istidaad filly and a My Happy Melody two-year-old, both of which are ready to go to the trials.Moeke looking good Waimarama school teacher John Moeke achieved plenty of success with a couple of talented winter gallopers, Escuina and Dubra Fala, back in the 1970s - he looks to have another good one in Tiakinui.
The Keeper four-year-old produced an outstanding winning performance in the $11,000 Vernon & Vasey Truck Parts Handicap (1600m) at Monday's Foxton meeting.
It was the horse's second success and he has only once failed to pay a dividend in six starts.
Ken Amey trains Tiakinui, who has been the subject of some big offers in recent weeks on the Foxton track.
He was a clear last entering the final 700m of Monday's race, but then rider Chris Johnson set him alight and he looped the field. He was the widest runner rounding the home bend but still kept up a strong finish down the outside of the track to win by 2 3/4 lengths.Bay quinella Hawke's Bay-owned horses took out the quinella in the $11,000 Lowe Schollum & Jones Handicap (2000m) at last Saturday's Wanganui meeting when Bally Heights got home a narrow winner over Riba Rocket.
Bally Heights, trained at Otaki by Karen Zimmerman, is owned by Hastings pharmacist Barry Smyth in partnership with Havelock North's Mike Cooch.
Smyth bred the Lord Ballina five-year-old in partnership with Mike Alexander, who now lives in Paraparaumu.
The horse has recorded his second win from 25 starts and has also chalked up nine minor placings.
Kelly Burne trains Riba Rocket. The Evans family from Waipukurau in partnership with former Wairoa trainer Tom McIntryre race the horse.Ho Down rising star Hastings trainer Paul Nelson is renowned for producing top jumpers and he looks to have another one in Ho Down.
The Victory Dance six-year-old was having just his second jumping start when scoring a five-length win in the $10,000 Speight's Hurdle (2760m) at Monday's Auckland meeting.
Nelson and his wife Carol own six-year-old Ho Down, who was bred out of the Grosvenor mare Grosveness. He was also a useful performer on the flat, recording two wins, three seconds and five thirds from 26 starts.
Ho Down fell in his hurdle debut, at Paeroa last month, but surged clear of Zagata over the final stages, after the two horses had a tussle in the last 500m.
He was one of two Bay-owned winners at Ellerslie on Monday, the other being Proposition in the $30,000 McGregor Grant Steeplechase, bred by Waipukurau couple Gary and Jan Sherratt.
The eight-year-old was following on from a good win over steeples at Hastings last month and could now be aimed at next month's Wellington Steeplechase.
Miss Rooney upsets
Havelock North's Danny Birnie celebrated a win on the weekend when Miss Rooney broke through for a maiden success at Sunday's Otago meeting at Wingatui.
Birnie bred the five-year-old Stark South mare out of his Khozaam mare Khozmic Power. Miss Rooney failed to show any form in 10 previous starts and won at odds of 16 to one.