MM goes back to back at Invercargill

By Jonny Turner

Mallory Maguire’s perfect results on the racetrack don’t tell her full story.

The mare made it two from two in her new campaign when taking out heat three of the Silk Road Southern Winter Series for trainer Alister Black and driver Nathan Williamson at Invercargill on Monday.

While Mallory Maguire might be delivering owners Ian and Lindsay Thomson great thrills recently, they have had to be extremely patient.

Their pacer was a brilliant winner of her last start at Winton, sitting parked before clearing out for an easy win.

That victory came in Mallory Maguire’s first start following a mammoth 16-month break from the track.

A knee injury marked the beginning of a series of niggles that have hampered the mare’s progress.

“We liked her early on. She ran third behind Ruby Roe and Flying Ellie in her first start,” Black said.

“She ran fifth next, then she went to Roxburgh and went pretty poor for her.”

“Looking back, I think the knee problem was probably starting to come on then.”

“She’s had a few niggles along the way, but she is good at the moment and hopefully she can hold together.”

Mallory Maguire took a massive step up from her Winton maiden win to produce a stylish victory from off the speed on King’s Birthday.

As impressive as she was at Ascot Park, the mare should return an even stronger force for the Silk Road Southern Winter Series at the same track on June 12.

“She should improve with that run,” Black said.

“I nominated her for the second heat and had to pull her out.”

“She wasn’t quite right and had a few days off, so I was expecting her to be better for this run.”

Nathan Williamson drove the winners of both Silk Road Series heats at Ascot Park.

Williamson produced Aroha Kenny to win Monday’s trotting heat in her first start from his stable.

The mare is bred and raced by his mother Bev Williamson, who enjoyed an outstanding King’s Birthday.

She also enjoyed success as an owner when Dwindle Mist took out Monday’s opener and with Cracker Opie who won Race 7 fresh up for trainer Craig Ferguson.