BENDIGO trainer-driver Chris Svanosio continues to be surprised by the steps taken by Norquay since joining his stable about a month ago.
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The four-year-old trotting mare stepped up another level to record her third-consecutive win under her new trainer at Tabcorp Park Melton last Saturday night.
The stable will chase a fourth-straight victory with Norquay at Melton again this weekend.
Svanosio insists the mare, who is leased by a syndicate, which includes his father Peter and several Bendigo business identities, has exceeded everyone's early expectations.
That is despite the daughter of champion stallion Majestic Son and Access To Success showing more than a glimpse of her immense ability, when she finished second for her former trainer in the Group 3 Breeders Crown Series Three Year Old Trot final at Geelong in late-August.
"It's been a real surprise. We were just hoping she might win a race and go around for the owners, but she's won three-out-of-three since we've had her," he said.
"She just keeps stepping up.
"I think we just got her at the right time. Pat Driscoll and Anton Golino over at Yabby Dam Farms were good enough to lease her out to us - we had the owners, but no horse - but she's well-bred and they look after their horses terrifically over there at Ballarat."
Win number three for Svanosio boosted Norquay's overall record to four wins and a second from 11 career starts.
Her winning spree kicked off at Maryborough on September 30, when driven by Michelle Phillips, and continued with another at short odds at Bendigo earlier this month, with Svanosio taking over the reins.
The Junortoun-based trainer rated Saturday night's win as the best of mare's three-on-end.
"That was definitely the hardest field she has been in and she was doing it really well on the line," he said.
"She showed a bit of gate speed, travelled well and was strong on the line.
"She is in against this Saturday night at Melton and it will get harder again.
"She's drawn the second row and it's a pretty solid field, but hopefully she can just keep improving.
"It's an awkward draw, but if she can be somewhere near them and run another good race, I'm sure everyone will be pretty happy."
Success on Saturday night gave Svanosio his sixth driving win of the 2019-20 season.
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