Trainer Andrew Carston produced a winning double at Oamaru on Sunday, with two-year-old Shazza successful in the Easy Made Marmalade Ltd (1200m) and stable stalwart Hunter Villain winning the Otago Racing Awards – 27th August (1400m).
Shamxpress filly Shazza provided a full circle moment for Carston with her win.
Shazza and Megan Taylor winning the Easy Made Marmalade Ltd (1200m), photo: Trackside
“Her mother Pretty Good Excuse was the first horse I ever trained and now I’ve trained her first foal to win a race so that’s pretty awesome,” he said.
Shazza was bred by Jacqueline and Philip Rogers, who also bred and raced her dam and race her along with Carston, Gerry Brown, Hunter Darry, Lance Mitchell and Tim Rogers.
Carston also trained the first winner for her sire Shamexpress in Xpressmymind in 2018.
The win also provided stable apprentice Megan Taylor with her first win for the stable and eighth career win.
The pair roared to the lead from the outside barrier (6) and never looked in danger throughout winning by a margin of three-and-a half-lengths.
“It was a great result all round,” Carston said. “She was impressive after being disappointing in the spring, she’s just taken a bit of time and she obviously appreciated the wet ground.
“Megan’s been with the stable for nearly six months and she’s doing really well, she’s a good girl with good ability and it was nice for her to get her first winner for the stable. /
Hunter Villian winning the Otago Racing Awards – 27th August (1400m), photo: Trackside
Carston was back in the winner’s circle after the last race with seven-year-old gelding Hunter Villain, who showed great determination under jockey Kylie Williams, to get his head in front in a very close finish in the $30,000 Benchmark 74 event.
“He’s a stable stalwart and I love him, he always tries so hard,” Carston said.
“He had been unlucky in his three runs this preparation so he deserved that one. It was a good race too and a good stake for him and great to get another win for his owner Terry Lines who has been a great supporter of the stable.
Carston said he was happy with all of his runners on the day, with the two wins complemented by Where’s Wally’s third, Yamuna’s forth and encouraging runs by Lipa Mala and Prima Donna.