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A rise in distance and heavy track conditions at Rotorua was the winning formula for Step In Time on Thursday, with the gelding causing a minor upset in the Campbell Infrastructure 2200.
The son of Time Test is trained at Matamata by Michael Moroney and Pam Gerard, and the latter anticipated an improved performance after he struck an unfavourable race pattern at Hastings last start, finishing back in the field.
Her assessment proved correct despite the $23.50 closing quote, with Step In Time looking comfortable throughout the staying contest as he travelled kindly three-wide for stable apprentice Joe Nishizuka. He began to circle the field and Nishizuka set the gelding alight at the 600m, breaking away from the field by a healthy margin.
Roc Up Ralph fought on gamely in pursuit of Step In Time in the straight, but Nishizuka's four-kilogram claim was telling in the finish as he raced away by 2-1/4 lengths.
Gerard was pleased to see the gelding back in winning form after breaking maidens three starts back over a mile at Matamata, also with Nishizuka in the saddle.
"He's not a big horse and easy to ride, so it's good to make use of Joe's apprentice claim, and he's just been waiting to get up in trip," Gerard said.
"They walked and sprinted last time over a mile at Hastings, which didn't suit him, and the ground was a bit better too.
"He's kept stepping up this preparation, hasn't put in a bad run, so it shows he's maturing into being a competitive racehorse."
Step In Time was purchased by Paul Moroney Bloodstock and Ballymore for $45,000 at the 2021 Karaka Yearling Sales out of Highden Park's draft, and he is raced by the stable and Diedre Neville-White.
"Deirdre absolutely loves this horse and given he's going well with a claimer on means he should be able to remain competitive as he steps up in class," Gerard said.
The race was not without some dramatics, with favoured runner Danzino slipping at the 400m mark, dislodging jockey Joe Doyle and subsequently taking out Innocent Victim in the trail with Jasmine Fawcett also falling.
The incident resulted in a track inspection and the meeting was abandoned for the final two races.