Candyce Martins celebrated her 20th birthday in style at the Bermuda Equestrian Centre at the weekend.

The harness driver secured two heats wins competing with gelding Gold N’ Glory and stallion Reel Desire respectively.

“It was a nice afternoon racing on my birthday,” she told The Royal Gazette.

Martins guided Gold N’ Glory to victory in a time of 1:05 flat competing in the 1:04 – 1:05 time bar during the first half of the racing programme at the Vesey Street racetrack.

She then grabbed the spotlight again after steering Reel Desire to victory in the 1:11.4 & slower division on the other side of the intermission.

Her mare, Double Time, which holds the Bermuda bred record (1:02.2), also came to within one fifth of a second of equalling the season’s fastest time to date of 1:04.3 competing in the Free for All.

Martin says she is encouraged by the early season form her racing ponies have demonstrated.

“The new season is looking promising,” she added. “I am excited for it to continue and expecting good things from all three of my ponies.

“My stallion, Reel Desire, is only two years old so he is new to the track. Last week was only his second race day and I was really impressed with his performance and times.”

The stallion posted identical times of 1:15.4 in both heats in its respective time bar.

Martins is equally as encouraged by the progress rookie drivers Kamali Tucker Teshi Zuill and J’auza James have made in the sulky.

Tucker, daughter of Southampton Rangers cricketer Kwame Tucker, guided gelding Captain Chaos to victory in the 1:08.1 – 1:11.3 time bar to underline her potential.

“We have a good number of rookies this year, which is exciting as well, three of which come from Bellhaven Stables,” Martins added.

“The season is only just beginning so I can’t wait to see what it brings.”

Martins was among a group of multiple heat winners which also included Kiwon Waldron, Tyler Lopes and Nisuje Landy.

Waldron’s four wins with Google Me, Gold Legacy and Reign of Terror was the most on the day.

Lopes was a double heat winner with Google Me and War Machine.

Landy also registered two wins with a Touch of Red on the way to sweeping both heats in the 1:06.1 – 1:08 time bar.

Waldron and Burrows Family’s mare, Reign of Terror, also achieved a clean sweep of victories in both heats in the 1:05.1 – 1:06 time bar.

He also equalled the season’s fastest time with Google Me, which the Indiana-bred mare posted during the 2021-22 harness season opener the previous race day.

Google Me holds the overall track record and mare’s record, which stands at 1:01.1 and is the only mare to win the coveted Champion of Champions crown to date.