War Machine dazzled with the fastest time of the day in the harness stakes races at the National Equestrian Centre yesterday.

Driven by Philip Correia, the Mello Family’s ten-year-old gelding clocked 1:02/4 in heat six of the aged stakes.

In the final race of the day, War Machine narrowly edged Rockeyed Optimist, piloted by owner Maurice Raynor, by a nose. Special Gold, the only stud in the aged stakes, driven by Andrea Westerfield and owned by Alaire Godfrey and Yhir Swan, finished third.

Despite soggy track conditions after overnight rain, Correia praised War Machine’s performance.

“Considering that the weather wasn’t the best, I thought the horse performed quite well today,” Correia said.

“It wasn’t ideal conditions for real fast times, but he knows his job as he’s been doing it for quite a bit. He’s got a good trainer at home. Colin Mello does a good job of training him. The horse is coming into prime fitness, so I expect him to do quite well for the next couple of weeks.”

Correia is aiming for a strong finish in the aged stakes on New Year’s Day.

“Right now for the aged stakes, he’s the favourite,” he said. “Consistency is a big thing because it’s a combined time effort. Rockeyed Optimist is another horse. Maurice is the owner and driver, and he’s quite good. All three ponies in that race are top animals, so we should have some good races on New Year’s Day.”

Raynor was satisfied with Rockeyed Optimist’s second-place finish in the tight race.

“I can’t complain much because the pony’s been consistent at the beginning of the season,” he said.

“When I look at previous times from last season, Rockeyed Optimist is going faster, so I’m pleased. When you’ve got three consistent ponies on this type of track, it all comes to decision-making. You have to realise your competitor’s ability and save your pony for the second heat. That’s exactly what I did.”

In the Two-Year-Old stakes, where the horses are experiencing the Vesey Street track for the first time, Huntingforgold recorded the fastest time of 1:04/3 with Tahzii Flood at the helm. Gold Rush, driven by Kirista Rabain, had the second-best time of 1:05/4, while Victoria’s Secret, handled by Candyce Martins, managed 1:09/3.

Flood was thrilled to see progress with Huntingforgold.

“Leading up to the stakes races, we had some issues to work out and everything worked out perfectly,” he said.

“We had some harness problems since the horse is just two years old. It’s learning. I had to take my time with him to figure out these things, but I think we’re going to make a pretty good team for the New Year’s Day stakes.”

Rabain, who also had success with Red October in the Four-Year-Old stakes, is optimistic about Gold Rush maintaining its average time. Both horses belong to Simsfield Stables.

“We have the best times going into the stakes races because it’s an average of four races,” Rabain said. “Gold Rush has the best average times, but Huntingforgold has the fastest time.”

Martins guided Belhaven Stables’ Smart Machine to victory in the Three-Year-Old stakes.

“It was a good race for Smart Machine as he won both his heats against Holy Grail,” she said. “It was his first stake race. He just made it into Free for All a few weeks ago, so he’s running really well. The horse is only three. He’s got a lot of learning to do, but he’s been pretty good so far.”

The youngest driver, 11-year-old Daman Burchall, enjoyed competing with Reel Desire and Kool The Fire, owned by Belhaven Stables.

“I’ve been doing harness racing for around a year now,” Burchall said. “I started with the miniature ponies just for the fun of it, and I’m here now doing the ponies. I want to go a long way with this sport. Hopefully, when I’m older, I can start standard horse racing.”