With a purchase price of just $1000, Thornton took home five times that amount when the double westbred gelding by the now passed Franco Jamar NZ came from three back on the pegs, with Emily Suvaljko weaving her way out on the final turn to win by 3.5m at big odds.
Majic Bay made his debut with Hayden Reeves on April 8 and won first up as well, but since heading to Thorntons stable he has made a few gear adjustments and after tracking well a few days after his trial, the win was a welcomed surprise for the team.
"Would have been nice to have a couple of dollars on him at the odds he paid, I wasn't expecting the win but very happy with his performance." Thornton said.
The Jemma Hayman bred, owned, and trained Petes Honour took out the first on the card when the three-year-old came from behind to win the 3YO event, driven by Chris Voak.
With the win being his third in just 11 starts, what is noteworthy is that the westbred son of Sweet Lou USA has now banked three lots of westbred win bonuses as well as six further places, with Hayman pocketing a further $19,442.94 in bonuses on top of stake money paid out.
It was lucky start 110 for Go Home Jo on Saturday night with the 10-year-old taking out race two on the card for trainer Steven Jelf.
Driven by Toby Lynn, the pair managed to get up at $16 odds, giving the mare her second with this preparation.
Go Home Jo spent over two-and-a-half years away from the track from April 2021 to December 2023, with trainer Steven Jelf explaining that it was due to time constraints and the mare always being thrown on the back burner.
Jelf, who currently has eight in work looks forward to his newest acquisitions making their way to the track in the coming months after purchasing Arise Lazarus who's had just the one start and Starznstripes both from NSW.
In a thrilling finish in the third event, Don and Jeff Wegner took top spot on the line with a head margin separating Elephant Rock and Plastered in race three.
With just a neck margin separating first down the fourth, Elephant Rock took top spot, bringing up his second win in 47 starts, with almost two years between wins and breaking a losing sequence of 39 starts.
$1.50 favourite Bettor Have Faith NZ has continued her good form with the four-year-old mare bringing up her third win in just seven starts.
Trained by Barry Howlett and driven by Kyle Harper, Bettor Have Faith NZ was able to lead all the way from barrier one in race five, holding a comfortable 3.3m margin over Lord Titanium over the 2242m trip.
The Geoffrey Scott bred, owned, and trained Times Tickin led all the way in race six, with Shannon Suvaljko in the gig.
The six-year-old Live Or Die USA gelding brought up his third career win in 43 starts.
Emily Suvaljko drove a double on Saturday night, ending the program with a win on board Lucienne for trainer Daryl Miller.
