Three is proving to be an elusive number for Reece Maguire.
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For the second time in three weeks, the Leeton reinsman has brought up at double at Wagga but couldn’t go any further.
He had a strong chance to bring up the hat-trick with Drive The Dream before finishing third.
“I just can't get three but it was good,” Maguire said.
Simply Clever kicked off the meeting in the best way as she brought up her third win for Maguire in four starts.
The daughter of Santanna Blue Chip went out to a big lead but had to hold off a fast-finishing Twentyeightblack to win the Workout Wagga Two-Year-Old Pace (2165m).
Despite only winning by a neck in the finish, Maguire was pleased with her efforts.
“I am very happy with her,” Maguire said.
“We are looking at one more race, maybe, with her.
“We will see how we go there and if we win that we will probably spell her until she is three and chase the races next season for her.”
Simply Clever ($1.50 fav) raced without cover for the majority of the race with The Ides Of March ($7.10) determined to maintain the lead.
Twentyeightblack ($3.40) was able to close late but Maguire was always confident she had enough in reserve.
“As soon as I saw them go into Indian file I thought I had better get around them as I didn't want Wilmot (on Twentyeightblack) going to the front as I thought he was my danger,” Maguire said.
“I probably drove her too confident up the straight, I didn’t really touch her and when we were 100 out I hit her and she responded.”
Im Johnny Jet then returned to the winners list for the first time in seven months when ran down Mammals Flash to win by a neck.
The gelding hadn’t been far away after being held up last start following three successive seconds.
Both horses are trained by Maguire’s father Phil.
The double sees Maguire continue to close the gap on Corey Bell in the Southwest and Riverina drivers premiership.
He is now 14 wins away from the defending champion, Corey Bell, who has moved away from the region with two months left in the season.
Yanco trainer Shane Hillier also had a double.
He scored with Area Drive, who made it two wins on the trot, before Rob The Bank took out the last of seven races.
Meanwhile, Regal Ashes was by far the most impressive winner of the day.
The three-year-old filly made a mess of her rivals, careening away from her rivals to score by more than 26 metres.
After starting off the second line Nic Dewar moved the daughter of Stonebridge Regal around the field to sit without cover and she was far too strong in the finish.