Hastings trainers Guy Lowry and Leah Zydenbos were pleased to be racing back on their home track on Saturday and gave it the tick of approval ahead of their local spring carnival next month.

It was just the second time racing has taken place at the Hawke’s Bay venue in nearly two years, with the track undergoing remedial work, which included recambering, following a slip in the first race on the second day of the 2024 Spring Carnival.

Racing returned to the track for one six-race meeting in May before being rested over winter in preparation for the return of the region’s iconic spring racing carnival in September.

Racing resumed at Hastings on Saturday with a seven-race meeting on the Heavy8 track, and Lowry was pleased with how the surface raced.

“I thought it played very even,” he said. “It was Heavy, but it was very even. The winds have started, so it won’t take long before it dries out the track. I am looking forward to the carnival next month.”

While pleased with the track, Lowry was also happy to go home a winner, with stable runner Testwin taking out the Beard Brothers Sprint (1200m).

The six-year-old gelding settled just in behind the speed where he enjoyed an economical passage under jockey Kelly Myers. Turning for home, they had a wall of horses in front of them, however, Myers was able to find a gap and launched her charge through it, with Testwin going on to make the lead with 100m to go and held off Procul Boy to win by a long head.

“He had prepped up well for the race, we had a bit of luck in the running and he won well fresh,” Lowry said. “I thought it was quite a good field.”

Lowry will wait for the handicapper before making any further plans with Testwin.

“It depends on what rating they give him,” he said.

Meanwhile, Lowry said promising three-year-old Fortunato has come through his debut win at Taupo last week in good order and is currently enjoying some time in the paddock before a likely tilt at the Gr.2 Hawke’s Bay Guineas (1400m) at Hastings next month.

“He has got a bit of talent, so I look forward to him getting ready for something like the Hawke’s Bay Guineas,” he said.

Fortunato will likely be the stable’s leading light at their home carnival, however, Lowry is hopeful of lining up a few other emerging youngsters.

“We have got quite a few young horses, I am not sure whether they will make the carnival, but we have got a nice team, so we will see what happens,” he said. – LOVERACING.NZ News Desk