Tauranga trainer Peter Huxtable had to wait until the last race for his horse Remind Me Again, ridden by Cameron Lammas, to show its paces and it did, by winning in style.

The five-year-old swooped around at the turn and ran out the winner by five lengths.

File photo.

The short priced favourite paying just $2.30 to win, headed home another local horse, Keen to Keeper, trained by Stuart Manning.

Cambridge Trainer Ralph Manning picked up the first win of the new racing season when favourite McCullum, having its first start, came home as the winner in the first race, The Ultimate Motor Group 1200, at Racing Tauranga yesterday.

McCullum was at the races for the first time, but had won its two trials, albeit over a year ago, but Jockey Zy Nor Azman had to work hard, as the saddle slipped slightly on the turn.

Manning continued his good start to the season when Alysha Collett rode Sheez the Boss to win the third on the card, Team Pryor Bayleys 2160, with local trainers. Jim Pender (El Bandido) and Brian McKeagg (Running Sacred) finshing second and third. A late scratching on the fancied Bella Blue in the last halted a possible Manning hat trick.

Other local trainers, Anthony Fuller (Mareeba) 3^rd and Cindy Mortimer (Lady Marilyn) 4^th couldn't match a strong running Hayley Anne, trained by Karen Fursdon, at Matamata that took out race 5 The Capital Tractors 1400,

The heavy 11 Tauranga Track now has two months to recover before the two meetings scheduled for October.