The stables of Wanganui trainer Kevin Myers saddled up 21 horses at the Castlepoint Beach Racing Club's highly successful meeting on Saturday, and he reaped the rewards.
Not only did they provide the first three home in the feature race, the Fagan Motors Castlepoint Cup, but they also won three of the races on the eight-race programme.
Myers, currently sitting second with 50 wins on the national trainers premiership, was delighted to win the Cup with the promising Pennon, who just pipped stablemate Sonny Wellington in a driving finish.
It was his third win in the event, having won with Stacey Jones in 2001 and Gabla in 2002, and he was moved to remark that the victory gave him as big a thrill as winning a high-profile race such as the Auckland Cup.
Pennon was always likely to be a leading contender for the big race as his record of three wins, seven seconds and two thirds from 25 starts - many of them in Australia - indicated his ability.
Ridden by Lisa Whelan, who is the third most successful apprentice in the country this season with 37 wins, Pennon had to dig deep to pull back the brave Sonny Wellington, while another Myers runner in Malachite was third.
Myers won the Fagan Suzuki, Tinui Highweight with The Sting who beat home stablemate Gioarchino and Justahula, the Baker and Associates Lighthouse Handicap with Thundermore who edged out Casual and Maravi and the Whakataki Hotel Whakataki Handicap with Mahandi. Second there was Banna Strand, one of a few visitors from John Wheeler's New Plymouth stables, and Hemingway was third.
The battle for major honours between Thundermore and Casual was one of the day's highlights and both horses look ready for profitable winter campaigns. Thundermore is a 5-year-old who has won three of his 18 starts, while Casual has won 12 races from 67 starts, including two over hurdles.
He has already amassed $129,000 in prize money.
It wasn't a total Myers blitz at Castlepoint though, with veteran Tauherenikau trainer Don Fuge combining with local jockey Renee Fraser to win a double.
They captured the C.R. Gace Matakoina Trial Stakes with Hula Dash, who headed off Myers' duo Aiyana and Texus Tease, and the Stihl Shop Schofield Handicap with Justahula in what was her second run of the day. She showed tremendous grit to stave off a late run from Sea King, with Hemingway third.
It had been five long years since the last Castlepoint Beach races were held and officials would have been relieved at the excellent conditions and the equally excellent crowd which turned up to watch the action.More photos, p10