Jowka plays his trump card

Jowka gave apprentice Matthew Ward a well overdue winning ride at the Foxton trials on Tuesday.

Formerly with Grant Searle, Ward is now with fellow Awapuni trainer Mark Oulaghan and he could not have had a more experienced horse to show his wares.

Jowka has been a consistent performer each season and looked impressive defeating highly regarded The Sting in an open heat over 1200 metres.

The heat was run at a fast clip, with Reforzar setting the pace and The Sting close up, but it was left to Jowka to outfinish them.

Injury-prone Finale chased them home, while The Piper, resuming after a break, did not feature.

Trainer Karen Zimmerman was not perturbed by The Piper's seemingly lack-lustre run as she had smiles earlier for Nowucia and Fairway Wish, both of whom showed their rivals a clean pair of heels over 1000 metres.

Fairway Wish looked smart last season when winning impressively at a trial meeting, but his raceday form was disappointing.

He is out of Menta Verde, a daughter of prolific Gerry Arber-owned broodmare Zena's Wish.

Nowucia was equally disappointing in her first campaign, but now as a 4-year-old she has furnished nicely and rounded her winning trial off in the right manner.

Otaki breeder Tom Jamieson was on hand to see his 2-year-old We Are Royal, by Royal Academy from Dance On Deck, score a nice win over 1000m in the hands of Darryl Bradley. He is trained at Awapuni by Gary Vile.

Results from yesterday's Foxton trials (track good) were:

2YO, 800m: Heat 1: Savabeel-Clermont Lass g K Myers 1, Captain Rio-Miss Monk c 2, Black Ash 3. Nse, 4L. Time: 46.57. Trainers: Dixon/Haworth, Foxton. Heat 2: Gem K Smith 1, His Royal Highness-Epic Pulse g 2, Masih Chiantik 3. 1/2hd, nk. Time: 48.03. Trainer: K Gray, Copper Belt Lodge. Heat 3: Postponed-Hahei g R Hannam 1, Spartacus-Zam's Girl c 2. Riviera-Comb The Seas g 3. 1/2hd, 1/2L. Time: 47.44. Trainer: H Auret, Wanganui.

MAIDENS, 800m: Atonement P Bell 1, Atlan 2, Towkay-Conchelle 3g 3. Shtnk, 1/2nk. Time: 47.18.

2YO, 1000m: Heat 1: We Are Royal D Bradley 1, Black Minnaloushe-Secret Dale g 2, Golan-Pavillion g 3. 2 1/2L, 1 1/2L. Time: 59.88. Trainer: G Vile, Awapuni. Heat 2: Keeper-Sadie Belle g R Hannam 1, Rulz 2, Black Tuxedo-Black Anna g 3. 1/2hd, 7L. Time: 60.35. Trainer: H Auret, Wanganui.

OPEN, 1000m: Slah R Myers 1, Grasshopper 2, D'Goldie 3. 2L, 2L. Time: 60.72. Trainer: R Frost, Otaki.

MAIDENS, 1000m: Heat 1: Nowucia J Riddell 1, Danzig Hill-Kaoru Dancer 3c 2, Skylark 3. 1 1/4L, 1/2hd. Time: 59.90. Trainer: K Zimmerman, Otaki. Heat 2: Fairway Wish L Allpress 1, Thorn Park-Frizzle 3f 2, Burra Boy 3. 2L, nse. Time: 58.56. Trainer: K Zimmerman, Otaki.

OPEN, 1200m: Jowka M Ward 1, The Sting 2, Reforzar 3. Lgnk, 2 1/2L. Time: 1.12.65. Trainer: M Oulaghan, Awapuni.

MAIDEN, 1200m: Roman Jack K Smith 1, Keeper-Hangover Street 3g 2, Zapaman 3. Nse, 4L. Time: 1.12.37. Trainer: K Gray.

- © Fairfax NZ News