Overseas driver Dale Miller outlined his extra quality in the New Year’s Day harness racing at Vesey Street.

Miller, one of three visiting drivers from Indiana, triumphed in the three-year-olds with IC’s Shakedown and then took Cherokee’s Ironman to victory in the four-year-olds. The other winners in the stakes races were Casey Truran with Enwood’s Generation in the two-year-olds and Keira Whited riding Black & Mild in the five-year-olds and over.

The four four-year-old finalists yesterday, based on how they finished during the Boxing Day heats, were Cherokee’s Ironman and Itsallaboutme as well as Hott Gossip and Colonel’s Finest.

Finalists for two and three-year-olds included IC’s Shakedown, a three-year-old, and Inwood’s Generation and Shady Lady, both two-year-olds. The five-year-olds and over finalists were GV Crystal Ball, Black & Mild, Abbey’s Dream and Down Home Punch.

Arnold Manders, the president of the Driving Horse and Pony Club, said the visiting Indiana drivers — Miller, his brother Lewayne Miller and Kevin Lambright — had helped raise the standard of driving on show.

“Dale’s an excellent driver, he drives my horses in Indiana. Most of the guys who came here over the festive period come from the stable where I keep my horses in Indiana.

“It was a good day, it was a fairly decent crowd and we had some very good racing.

“Some of the new horses that are coming in are starting to get acclimatised and you can see already their times are getting faster.

“The three horses we brought to inject some enthusiasm into the sport — IC’s Shakedown, Cherokee’s Ironman and Itsallaboutme — are starting to do what we thought they would and we’re looking at trying to bring some more in.”