THEY say nothing really pays off as much as patience does.
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It's something Maiden Gully trainer Maree Campbell, husband Paul and daughter Holi have learned twice early in the 2021 harness racing season.
Three weeks after scoring an emotional win with Sonofatrump at Melton, in the trotter's first start in two-and-a-half years, the devout harness racing family was able to enjoy more success with another of their horses returning from a layoff in Lucinda Mac.
Having her first start since July last year due to an assortment of issues, the six-year-old trotting mare returned to racing in style with a win at Bendigo last Thursday.
A big night for the Campbells was capped by a double, after the five-year-old pacer Belittled notched up his sixth career win earlier in the night.
Dual wins gave the stable the amazing early strike-rate of three wins from six starters in the new year.
For Maree Campbell, a successful return for Lucinda Mac brought with it equal does of joy and relief after plans for an earlier return to the track were thwarted.
"She had a trial a few weeks ago and we were really happy with that," she said.
"But over the winter months she actually stopped drinking there for a while.
"After her trial, we nominated her and actually had to scratch because she got this respiratory infection, which has been going around a few stables.
"Obviously, we would have liked to give her another trial to see actually where she was at, but at the same time, she had been working well with Belittled and Sonofatrump, who have been going well.
"We were somewhat confident she would run a decent race, but my biggest concern was she had never won over that distance (1650m) before.
"But she finished strong on the line, which has convinced us all's well."
The win automatically qualified Lucinda Mac for the Aldebaran Park Vicbred Platinum Trotting Mares Sprint Championship Final, to be run at Tabcorp Park Melton on Friday, February 5.
The mare has previously been placed at Group 1 level as a four-year-old behind Moonlight Dream in the Vicbred Super Series.
Belittled's win extended the Western Terror gelding's record this season to one win and one placing from three starts, including a third at Melton to start the year.
Campbell described Belittled as an opportunist and was thrilled to see him break through on the back of a pair of handy runs at harness racing headquarters.
"He's never been that lucky with his draws, but at Bendigo he didn't have to go back to last," she said.
"Quite often he'll draw five or six and you'll have to snag him back to last and make a move at the end of the race.
"But Chris' (Chris Alford) drive was 10 out of 10 - he put him into the race at the right time and he could dictate what he wanted to happen.
"2021 has been a very good year for us so far. We had Sonofatrump win first-up and Lucinda's won first-up and Belittled has been really consistent.
"Hopefully things can continue."
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