If you are a numbers person all the indicators were present for Mac Stubborn to complete the sequence and take out the Thrifty Car & Truck Rentals Tamworth Pace on Thursday afternoon at the Golden Guitar Paceway.
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Purchased by Anthony Varga to boost his team after taking out a trainer's licence four months ago, the Auckland Reactor-Kept In Line three-year old gelding has had four race starts for the stables.
A fourth at his first start for the stables back on July 16 was followed by a third and then a second to White Wash, by a head.
"He has been knocking on the door for a win," Varga said.
"And it was a real good win as well."
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From the second row in the barrier eight slot Mac Stubborn had to endure a false start before the field was drawn together again and the barriers pulled away.
"The false start was a bit scary as the number two horse (Wotnow Swanee) interfered with the one horse (Prince Of Payne) and I got the backwash but there was nothing I could do," Varga said.
"He (Mac Stubborn) did fire up a little in the running after that."
Varga settled Mac Stubborn into racing three back on the inside running line with Wotnow Swanee and Caitlin McElhinney leading the field.
"I thought when I did the form that we would end up three or four back on the marker pegs," he said.
Rounding the final turn Varga shifted Mac Stubborn to the outside running line before then adopting a three wide running position to race clear for a 6.6 metre win over Got The Scoop (Dean Chapple) and Wotnow Swanee 3 metres away third.
"I was pretty excited when we were three wide," Varga said.
"I haven't driven him from behind before as he has always raced out in the breeze for me but he was like a giant and covered them (horses) up easy when I pulled out."
"They had backed off in the first quarter (31.9 seconds) and I thought it might have been a sprint home but he was in second gear when I pulled out and he sprinted home very nice."
Mac Stubborn covered the 1980 metres with a mile rate of 2.01.4.
The Westdale-based racing stables are travelling along well. Mac Stubborn is raced by Varga, his partner Denna Burns, who is enjoying her first stint in the ownership of the standardbred, and his father John.
"Both Dad and Denna were very excited with the win - we knew he was knocking on the door for a win," Varga said.
The stables purchase of Mac Stubborn, and also Navua Girl, has proved fruitful with both paying their way since coming north to race from the Western Districts.
"Denna owns Navua Girl and she won first up for us but didn't have much luck in running today," he said.
"That is two wins in two months for us."
"It is good to train horses - especially when you get a winner and drive them as well."
The lime green silks with a black horseshoe and whip motif were also a standout at the finish line for the stables.
"We are still learning about both the horses but we just go out to have a bit of fun," Varga added.
