Lenny Winters has recorded two wins apiece in the last two seasons, and he left it to the last possible moment to equal that tally this term.
The Kumeu trainer had been winless heading into the final day of the season at Tauranga on Wednesday, but he was hopeful of getting on the board with his two representatives.
Bell Time Potae was the first to jump in the Ultimate Mazda Maiden 3YO (1200m), where he was taken straight to the front by apprentice jockey Ngakau Hailey, who dictated terms throughout and guided his charge home to an impressive 8-1/2 length victory.
The 17-year-old hoop donned Winters’ silks once again in the following race, the Food 101 1200, aboard Ocean Road, where they posted a 1-1/4 length victory.
Winters was duly rapt with his two-win haul on the final day of the season.
“It was pretty cool to get two,” he said. “I only get two a year and I got two in the one day on the last day of the season, which is pretty awesome.”
Bell Time Potae was having his first run since September last year, but took pleasing trial form into Wednesday, having finished runner-up at Pukekohe over 800m last month before winning his 800m heat at Avondale earlier this month.
“He has improved off both of those trials,” Winters said. “At Puke he ran second and we didn’t think he handled the track (Heavy9) that day and we were a bit concerned, but he then won at Avondale.
“We galloped him at the beach with Ocean Road on Saturday and we put the blinkers on him, and he was doing better than Ocean Road. That told us that he had improved quite a bit.”
Winters was just as pleased with the winning performance of Ocean Road, who was also first-up after similar trials performances, including winning his 950m heat at Avondale.
The son of Shamexpress had been struggling to find form since his maiden win last year, and Winters said heading out to the beach every day has been instrumental in rejuvenating the rising five-year-old.
“He has turned the corner a bit too. He goes out to the beach and rolls three or four times every day, and he is quite happy,” Winters said.
“He was a bit naughty in the gates and we have taken him back there and put him in a few times and he was good in the gates today. I just think he is in a happy place.”
Winters is hoping to better his customary season tally of two wins next term, and he believes he has the firepower to do so.
“Tu Meke Potae is back in work,” he said. “We went to Ruakaka a month or so ago and he didn’t go so well, he had a few problems, but I three-quartered him on the beach the other day and he felt awesome.
“We have got a half-brother to him by Jon Snow, Lord Commander, and he ran second at the trials at Avondale when those other two won. He is a really nice, big, strong horse, and I really like him too.
“We have got a couple of young ones there as well that are ready to come back in work. I am looking forward to next season.”
