KEY POINTS:
Gareth Dixon wasn't thinking of himself when Lizzie Maguire gave him the biggest win of his career in the Harness Jewels.
He was thrilled for the people who helped get him to this dream stage of his career.
Dixon has emerged as one of the young guns of
New Zealand training, with a state-of-the-art property in South Auckland and some genuine sales day firepower.
The man who helped take Dixon from one-time stable foreman for Mark Purdon and then Tony Herlihy to having his name on the stationery is Kerry Hoggard.
Hoggard has been Dixon's biggest supporter since he started training and his daughter, Helen, owns Lizzie Maguire.
"The support Kerry and his family have given me has been amazing so I am thrilled to be able to pay them back a bit," said Dixon.
Lizzie Maguire made the most of her good barrier draw to down arch-rival Susie Maguire in a major triumph for Cambridge's Jubilee Park, who sold both at last year's sales.
Lizzie Maguire may now head to the Breeders Crown in Australia in August, while Itz Cherry Ripe, who was a strong third, will come north to join new trainer James Stormont.
Williamson rates springback
Nathan Williamson may only have been a junior driver but he knows a good trotter when he sit behind one.
And he says Springback Richard is better than good.
The 3-year-old overcame an early skip to sit parked and win his section of the Harness Jewels, grabbing Sun Lad on the line.
It continued a remarkable break-out season for Williamson, who helps his father Phil train New Zealand's best team of trotters.
"He is a really good horse and can so much potential," said Williamson.
"He has a lot of learn but could be up there with the best trotters we have had."
With that win under his belt Williamson is keen to come north over the winter to chase the junior drivers premiership.
The race wasn't completely without hard luck stories, with northern filly Gold Star a massive third after being checked on the turn.
Purdon does time warp
Mark Purdon could be forgiven for thinking he was in a time warp on Saturday.
A few years ago Purdon ruled age group racing in New Zealand before the trials and tribulations of the Blue Magic scandal and the sudden death of his racing partner John Seaton.
But his genius has not faded, he had Petite Sunrise (trotter) and Ohoka Arizona (male pacer) to take out their juvenile sections of the Jewels.
While Petite Sunrise looked a mini version of champion dam Pride Of Petite it was Ohoka Arizona who was the most impressive.
He overcame coming wide and hanging to grab stablemate Fiery Falcon, suggesting he will be a fearsome Derby contender next season.
His win capped Purdon's amazing dominance of the male juvenile pacing races this season.
Turnover has officials smiling
Harness Racing officials were beaming after Saturday's turnover figures.
Nearly $2.7 million was bet on the nine races, with the on-course turnover nearly twice the $250,000 budget.
"When you add the fixed odds and Pick6 turnover it really was quite amazing," said HRNZ boss Edward Rennell. The crowd was about 7000.