NEW PLYMOUTH - West Auckland pacer Royal Trickster capped off some solid form this season with a well deserved victory at good odds in the Hawera Trotting Cup yesterday.
The Cam's Trickster six-year-old has been chasing a provincial cup win all season, contesting no fewer than nine such races.
Among her performances this season before yesterday's victory had been seconds in both the Rotorua and Taranaki Cups.
"She's been in the money in all of them so I think she deserves today's win," said co-trainer Jim Breed, who was surprised punters allowed Royal Trickster to go out paying $17.20 to win.
Holme And Away was a reluctant pacemaker most of the race with Royal Trickster tucked away three back against the rail by driver Maurice McKendry.
It wasn't until well inside the 200m mark that McKendry found racing room to make his winning move. Royal Trickster shot to the front and drew out to score by two lengths from Hanover Mae.
Times Are Tuff was three quarters of a length back third, making ground well after botching the start.
Breed won the Hawera Cup in 1967 with Rapine which he drove himself.
These day's Breed trains in partnership with his son Matthew which adds another generation to a family tradition.
Jim Breed has held either a training or driving licence for just over 50 years and his late father, Ernie, was a licence holder for 50 years.
"And my grandfather was a blacksmith in Wanganui so the family has been around horses for a while."
Plans for Royal Trickster will see the mare back up in the class two and faster pace on the second day of the Hawera Harness meeting on Thursday.
Hawera Cup favourite Disprove, who had won his previous four races, settled well back before making a likely looking challenge early in the run home.
The effort was short-lived, however, with Disprove weakening to finish ninth of the 14 runners.
- NZPA