Great day for Opaki trainers

Opaki trainers hit their straps at the Wairarapa Racing Club's meeting at Tauherenikau on Monday, snaring three wins on the eight-race card.

Stacey Dougan kicked off the day by winning the opening event with Anniesstar in a desperate three-way finish with nose, nose margins.

Anniesstar was fresh up and aided by a heady ride from young apprentice Mick Dee, who was also able to claim 3kg.

The win must have been a tonic for Dougan, recovering from a training track mishap, and was certainly a fillip for shrewd punters who got odds of better than 20 to 1 for their win investments.

In the third race it was the turn of trainer James Wallace who produced Mac An Athair to win his way out of maidens.

Mac An Athair won comfortably in the hands of Buddy Lammas, again at good odds of $15.20 for a win and $3.80 for a place.

In the next race Gavin Semmens almost pulled off an upset with Meo, failing by a nose to reach winner Fist.

Fellow Opaki trainer Roger Allen was not to be denied and took out the fifth race with Bazinger.

In a grandstand finish the 3-year-old filly just got to the line ahead of Blame de Angels, trained by Gerald Innes at Opaki.

Punters loyal to Wairarapa stables would have enjoyed that result too as the winner paid $10.90 and $3 and Blame de Angels a healthy $7.20 a place.

The quinella returned $130.50.

Innes also secured a second placing in the seventh race with the consistent Legal Advice.