No Excuse Maggie (grey) regained the winning list with a strong finish at Hawera. Photo / Supplied
Veteran jockey David Walsh probably picked a good time to relocate to the Central Districts.
His two victories at Hawera, including No Excuse Maggie in the $80,000 Windsor Park Breeders Stakes, proved timely.
New Zealand's most relocated jockey showed his long-lasting qualities in getting the John Bary-trained No Excuse Maggie home in the day's feature.
Barry asked Walsh to keep the rangy grey mare handy to the speed.
"But it was like a stock car race up front - they were bashing each other up, and I decided to stay well out of that."
Walsh drove No Excuse Maggie around the leaders on the home bend and extended to get out to a win by nearly three lengths. Favourite Floria got up to nose Dubai Belle and Faraway Eyes out of second after being hampered in the run in.
Walsh also rode Joku to win on Saturday and his lifetime tally in New Zealand is now 2290 wins. He is edging closer to the record of 2358 amassed by Lance O'Sullivan when he retired in 2003.
It was Joku's first win since he scored at Hastings on New Year's Day in 2011 and at $22 knocked most punters out of the Pick6.
Worse was to follow when hurdler Monkey Briscoe defied all efforts to run him down in the Egmont Cup at better than 40-1.
Waikato Stud stallion No Excuse Needed had another notable victory when another talented mare, I Do, raced away for a stylish win.
Allan Sharrock produced I Do forward enough to get the prize fresh from a break.
"I thought she would win and could not believe the price [$8.70]," said Sharrock.
If punters had been as confident of Amberio winning the $50,000 Wealleans Matamata Cup as trainer Karen Zimmerman they'd have made small fortunes.
"Honestly, this mare's work had been so enormous during the week, pretty much the only way she could have been beaten is if she didn't bring that to raceday," said a delighted Zimmerman after Amberio finished off a tough fight with local Atom Cat with victory by a head.
The Otaki trainer is confident Amberio can continue her form through to better-class races.
Whosyourmaster and Thunderbird One looked stylish winners on the undercard.
