Smart Machine continued his steady ascent through the harness racing ranks at the National Equestrian Centre last week.

The gelding, owned by Bellhaven Stables, won both legs on his debut in the 1:08-1:09 time bar with trainer/driver Candyce Martins in the bike.

The pair achieved the impressive feat after recording times of 1:07/3 and 1:06/4 as the sole competitor in both of their heats, with the performance again taking Martins by surprise.

“He is exceeding expectations,” she told The Royal Gazette. “He’s been improving every week and I look forward to his future.”

Martins also steered Bellhaven Stables’ mare Double Time to victory in the Free for All, which features the island’s fastest ponies, to cap another successful day at the track.

“Double Time felt good,” she added. “She is a good mare and is consistent every week.”

Martins was one of two female drivers to taste success in the Free for All with 16-year-old Bermuda High School for Girls student Kamali Tucker also achieving victory at the helm of Maurice Raynor’s gelding Rockeyed Optimist.

“It was a great win,” Tucker said.

“Special Gold, who I was racing, is a very competitive horse. He definitely has the potential for racing fast. The track conditions were not ideal because of the weather, but he ran his best and I am very, very proud of him.”

Bellhaven Stables achieved double success in the Free for All when their gelding SomeGoldSomewhere was also victorious, with 16-year-old Saltus Grammar School student Teshi Zuill at the helm.

“I was really impressed with his performance and really looking forward to the next race day with him,” Zuill said.

Lee and Sergio Raynor’s stallion Special Gold clocked the fastest time on the day of 1:02/4 on the way to winning the opening heat in the Free for All with international driver Kiwon Waldron in the sulky.

“It wasn’t the fastest time but probably the best we can get because of the conditions on the day, which was windy,” Waldron said. “He performed good and continues to show up every weekend so far.”

Waldron enjoyed a highly successful day after winning both heats in the 1:06/2-1:07/4 time bar with Antwan Edwards’ stallion Special Tux, the brother of Special Gold.

“I have to give credit to Special Tux because he was also a double-heat winner the previous weekend,” Waldron added.

“Last weekend he seemed to find himself and come into form.”

Waldron was among a trio of drivers achieving multiple victorious on the day, which also included Dylan DeSilva and Zuill.