Promising three-year-old Quizmaster provided jockey Cameron Lammas with the first leg of a winning treble when he scored in the opening event at Ruakaka on Saturday.

 

The locally-trained Iffraaj gelding had opened his account on his home surface back in October before tackling age-group stakes company at his next two runs.

 

Saturday’s rating 72 1200m contest against the older horses suited Quizmaster down to the ground as he settled just off the speed for Lammas before looming into contention on the home corner.

 

Asked for an effort at the 150m mark, Quizmaster dashed to the front before holding out the challenge of Mercy Hill, who closed off powerfully after being held-up at a vital stage in the run home.

 

Co-trainer Michelle Bradley, who prepares the horse with Chris Gibbs, was all smiles when interviewed after the race.

 

“We have a bit of time for him and I said to Chris as we watched him walking around that I thought he was developing more and more,” she said.

 

“It is nice to get this win out of him.

 

“You could see when he was coming down the straight that he is still green and learning the whole game, but I think we can pick-up a nice race with him later on.”

 

Lammas was pleased with the effort after the horse had proved a little wayward at his last start.

 

“Last start he did things wrong,” he said.

 

“Today the gear came off, and in a bit weaker field, he has won nicely.

 

“He’s probably going to be a better autumn horse, so he can only improve more and mature more.”

 

Lammas completed his winning treble on two further Gibbs/Bradley-trained horses with Final Suggestion taking out the day’s feature, the Whangaripo Valley Free Range Egg Cup (2100m), after Boogie Easy broke her maiden status over 1400m two races earlier.