Severine poses with connections following her win on Saturday
Trainer Andrew Carston scored a double on his home track of Riccarton Park on Saturday.
Hardy mare Severine picked up the fifth win of her career in the GM Accounting & Consulting Rating 74 (1400m).
The Go Racing French Cutlet Syndicate-owned five-year-old jumped well and sat one off the leader without cover and toughed it out to the bitter end to win by a nose on the line.
“God she’s tough, she knows where the winning post is,” Carston said.
“I thought she would run well she was dropping back from a stakes race that she’d had no luck in and it all fell into place for her this time.
“She’s done a really good job, she’s won five races so now we’ll place her to get some black type and I think she’s up to it.
“She’s had two starts in stakes company and she’s had no luck with barriers both times.”
Easy On The Eye poses with connections following her win on Saturday.
Carston’s second win of the day came in the last race with Easy On The Eye, leading home stablemate Shock Prospect in the Yaldhurst Hotel Rating 65 (1600m).
Ridden by Courtney Barnes, Easy On The Eye settled just better than midfield one off the rail before coming wide at the 400m mark to get clear running, reeling in the leaders to win by a long head.
“She’s a progressive mare who has really come of age this preparation,” Carston said.
“She’s been close to winning in her last two starts so she deserved to win today. I like her and I think she will train on from today’s win.
The four-year-old daughter of Super Easy was bred and is owned by a long-time supporter of Carston, Andy Denham.
“It’s always good to get a winner for Andy he’s supported us since day one and he deserves all the success he gets.”
Carston felt second placed Shock Prospect was unlucky but said she’d be winning a race soon.
“That’s three feature day seconds in a row for her, but her day will come. She’s a handy mare that’s developed well and she’s going the right way and she’s not far from winning a race.”
Carston also took home a cheque in the Alistair Gray Memorial Maiden (1400m) with Zacinto filly Diceland finishing third.
“She went really well, she’s taking a bit of time and practice but she’s on the right track and she’ll win a race,” he said.
After a successful day at the office Carston was looking forward to next weekend’s ILT Ascot Park Hotel Southland Guineas (1600m) in Invercargill where he has Gone With The Wind, Milford Sound and Allasera engaged.
“It’s exciting to be heading down there with a couple of strong chances in a listed race,” he said.