"The stakes at Alexandra Park are great and getting better and that has been huge for us, and other trainers," she told the Herald.
"And there are plenty of trotting races which is crucial for us because that is what we target.
"We decided to concentrate on them because not only do we have a lot of experience with them but we don't get the money to go to the yearling sales and buy well-bred pacing yearlings. With the trotters we also don't have to race the biggest, most powerful stables as often as we would with pacers."
Although Wallis and Hackett have proud histories as trainers of trotters, both before they were a couple and since, they have also had top pacers such as Sly Flyin, Waitfornoone and, in Hackett's case, even Gypsy Vance decades ago.
"But we would be happy to only train trotters these days, even though the only pacer we have at the moment, Like A Wildfire, is a really nice horse in the making.
"With 37 trotting wins and nearly $500,000 in stakes this season we feel like we have made the right decision."
Part of their support base are South Island owners looking at the smaller fields and bigger stakes for trotters at Alexandra Park while other horses are sent to their beach training environment almost as a last resort.
"We do actually have a jog track but all the fast work is done on the beach and that suits a lot of horses."
Tonight the stable take their only pacing winner for the season, Like A Wildfire, to race five (which he can win) but have more favoured chances in the three trotting races.
"I think Jansson is the best of our chances in race four because he likes the 2200m," she explains.
Madhubala will be among the favourites for race seven but Wallis is not excited by her 40m handicap over 2200m, even though the race lacks many rivals with bright futures.
The last race tonight sees the highly-talented Mr Good And Evil up against exciting three-year-old Sundees Son and Wallis is in two minds over the outcome of the event.
"I think Mr Good And Evil is getting better all the time and he has real speed so I could see him ending up an open class horse.
"But the way Sundees Son went last Friday he is going to be really hard to beat, so it might come down to manners."
As for the new season, Wallis says she and Hackett are looking to maintain around 20 horses but are also hoping Monte (saddle trots) get tote status in New Zealand, at least as a starting point.
"I think they can add something different to some meetings and we have found they help some horses re-focus and come back better for normal races after we have given then a Monte trial or non-tote.
"So I'd love to see them given a chance."
Winning formula
• Who: Trainers Michelle Wallis and Bernie Hackett.
• Record: 38 wins for the season, with 37 being trotters, leading that premiership. Only Phil Williamson has trained more trotting winners during a season.
• Alexandra Park: Second on the overall premiership to Steve Telfer.
