Howie Mathews has always held Weneedashock and Free Spirit in high regard, and his faith was rewarded when the pair stylishly quinellaed the McVerry Crawford 1700 at Awapuni’s synthetic meeting on Friday.

Weneedashock was sent straight to the lead by apprentice jockey Elen Nicholas and the pair dictated the pace throughout before being challenged in the straight by stablemate Free Spirit and Ironwood, but kicked clear to score by a long neck.

“They just went so well,” Mathews said.

“We’ve always held Weneedashock in high regard, he’s just a really neat little star and he gets up on the speed and he won’t stop.

“I said to Elen, ‘you get him to the front, button him off and tick along and he will not stop’ and it all worked to plan, she was rapt.”

The son of Shocking was the lesser rated of the pairing and Free Spirit, who was coming off two prior wins on the Awapuni all-weather course ran race favourite, just to be out-toughened in the last 50m under fellow apprentice Temyia Taiaroa.

“We’re not disappointed, but she (Free Spirit) didn’t have the 4kg claimer today, Toni Davies has been riding her and taking that weight off and I think it makes a big difference for her, she just doesn’t seem to carry the weight,” he said.

“Temyia rode a lovely race on her, but it was unfortunate that she was trapped three-wide so it probably took the finish off her.”

The Otaki trainer has not made any immediate plans for the duo, however, he may have to consider travelling out of the Central Districts to find favourable polytrack races in their grade.

“I’m a bit disappointed that the Awapuni Synthetic is not getting the kudos it should, it’s obviously horses for courses and my two were very lucky to run in that race, because the 75 1700m was canned two weeks ago because there weren’t enough entries.

“Whether I look to go further afield, maybe to Cambridge, but there may also be something for Weneedashock at Palmerston North as well, I’ll have to do some study.”

Mathews was also pleased with the third of his runners Susie Jane, who burst home late for a close fifth behind Bee Enchanted in the Whisker Forestry 1200, a race suited to on-pace runners.

“Susie Jane was probably a bit unlucky, it was a scorching pace and she got pushed back into the bulk of the field,” he said.

“She likes to make a real withering run home, and to only finish about two lengths from the winner after probably being about 10 or 12 (lengths) off them at the top of the straight was an amazing run.”

Mathews opted to have apprentices Taiaroa and Nicholas pair with his mounts at Awapuni, and greatly supports having the younger jockey’s aboard his charges.

“I love getting taking weight off horses, and I always try to give apprentices a go and if we don’t support the young riders coming through the senior ranks will be pretty thin.

“We’re lucky that we are in a situation where we own our own horses, we have some people with 10-20 percent shares but we own the majority so we don’t have to worry about whether the owners mind having an apprentice on.

“We love giving them a go, and when I could get Elen on Weneedashock it was great, she’s a good rider.”