THE combination of Marong trainer Shaun McNaulty and comeback driver Rod Lakey continues to bear fruit, with the pair partnering for a win at Stawell on Wednesday.
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Second-up from a two-month spell, the speedy Springa broke through for an impressive second career win at her 12th career start.
Lakey took the four-year-old mare straight to the front, from where she was rarely troubled, cruising to an 8.6m win over Tinge Of Fear, with Misschanel third in the small field of seven.
An accomplished performance by the now NR 55-rated pacer caught some by surprise, with the mare only equal fourth in betting at $15.70.
But it was less so to her trainer and her driver following a pleasing fourth first-up behind the handy Caledonian Terra at Ballarat earlier in the month.
"Shaun has had her a while and that is her second win for us," Lakey said.
"She' not the easiest horse to drive in races, so we're all very happy with the performance.
"She has a heap of gate speed - if she can draw the front row and get to the front, it takes a very fast horse to hold her out.
"And that's what happened, we got to the front and got away with a few cheap quarters and she was just too quick for them."
After breaking her maiden at Cranbourne at start number eight, and with the second victory coming just four runs later, both Lakey and McNaulty believe Springa is capable of adding a few more wins in her starts ahead.
"I like her a lot," Lakey said.
"We get on well around the stable - she has a personality I appreciate, but not everyone would. She suits my style.
"If Shaun continues to place her well, she can definitely win more races.
"He has a Mildura trip planned, when we can get up there. Mildura's another of those leader tracks where she can use her gate speed and get to the front and sprint home."
Sprnga's win delivered McNaulty his 18th win of the season and a 23rd for Lakey since his comeback in April following a 14-year hiatus from race driving.
Lakey will next have two drives at Monday's meeting at Charlton aboard last start maiden winner Double Dot (Bill White) and Looking Fresh (Gerard Jamieson).
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