Don't Say Clang gave his Riccarton trainer Terri Rae confidence to pursue middle-distance opportunities in the North Island with his win in the Winter Classic (2000m) at Riccarton on Saturday.
"He will go out for a week and then we will look at races in the North Island," Rae said."We wanted to see how he would handle the 2000m."
Don't Say Clang, winner of seven races to 1600m, had raced once previously over 2000m for an eighth in the Canterbury Gold Cup in May.
Rae, the top strike-rate trainer for New Zealand last season, races the Clang 6-year-old with her partner, Max Shepherd.
Rae also won the 3-year-old race on the first day of the National meeting with Ishiabeel. She also has First Ruler, a leading contender for the spring 3-year-old races in Canterbury after an impressive win at Oamaru last month.
Another trainer to enjoy a successful carnival was Levin horseman Peter McKenzie, who was represented by Metrical in the 1600m maiden. On Wednesday, McKenzie enjoyed success with Roverson and Malachite.
