Danika Wilson rode The Buffer for her first winning ride.
- 73mm of rain in the lead up resulted in an unseasonably heavy10 track. Fortunately, fields held up well with only 15 effective scratchings at the 7:30 racemorning deadline.
- The first two-year-old race of the South Island season was an early programme highlight particularly with CAPTAIN ROY being the first runner for legendary harness racing trainer Mark Purdon. CAPTAIN ROY ran a most creditable third behind the Ken Rae and Krystal Williams trained pair of REDEMPTION and SUPER ROSA.
- The Rae Williams combination had another moment to savour when grand performer THE BUFFER outfinished a more than useful field in the Coupland’s Bakeries Mile Trial to record his tenth win. By contrast his rider, stable apprentice Danika Wlison recorded the very first win of her riding career and gained just reward for much hard work.
- TARAMEA LAD, travelled from Gore, and confirmed a Martin Collins New Zealand Cup attempt when taking out the Waimakariri Businesses North Canterbury Cup. In doing so he beat last years Cup winner ALJAY and LOQUITA. Trainer Ellis Winsloe was on course as were owners Heather and Barry Gray from Hakataramea Station.
- Krishna Mudhoo rode TARAMEA LAD to get his second winner on the programme after piloting MATSCOT to an impressive win in the previous race.
- Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson trained three winners to take the total from their temporary Southern stable to 15 winners from seven racedays.
- Niranjan Parmar rode all three to be the leading rider on the day.