Ruakaka trainers reaped the rewards of a journey down to Tauranga, with Chris Gibbs enjoying a comfortable stable quinella with Cakebytheocean and Chevron.
A lucrative payoff awaits connections of Belardo filly Vita Amorosa if the Chris Gibbs-trained three-year-old can cause a major upset in Saturday's Gr.3 Cambridge Stud Northland Breeders' Stakes (1200m) on Saturday.
Ruakaka trainer Chris Gibbs admits Saturday's Northbeam Strong Stuff 2100 at Ruakaka isn't an ideal fit for his talented galloper Chevron, but said the race is a means to an end.
The Chris Gibbs-trained Malfy Rosa has acquitted herself well against the better staying three-year-olds in recent starts to put herself in the mix for the Queensland winter carnival.