Thurlow, who prepares a team of 12 at his Stainley Park establishment, had also been in the winners' circle with Our Roosta at Thursday's Manawatu meeting.

"It's a good way to start off the season and we just hope that it can continue," said Thurlow.

Thurlow paid $15,000 for Our Roosta during the Select session at Karaka in 2007 and later the same year went to $18,000 for Miners Rest at the Ready to Run Sale. The latter is a son of San Luis from the family of Gr I winners Solveig (New Zealand Oaks, DB 1600) and Captivate (New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders' Stakes).

"He (Miners Rest) has always showed a lot of ability, but he's just taken a long time and is still coming to it," said Thurlow.

Miners Rest was making his second appearance today and was settled midfield on the fence by rider David Walker.

The four-year-old was in the clear 250 metres from home and finished strongly to race away with the More FM 90.2 Maiden by three-quarters of a length.

"He won a few jumpouts 12 months ago and had one run, but it was a rock hard track so we put him aside and he's still a bit weak," said Thurlow, who shares in the ownership of Miners Rest with Warwick Lupton, whose father Snow owned and trained the 1983 Melbourne and Wellington Cups winner Kiwi.

Thurlow races Our Roosta outright and the four-year-old was successful at his sixth appearance at Awapuni last Thursday.

"He's a nice, big type of horse, but he's still a big baby yet," said Thurlow.

"He's taken a while to learn to flatten out and put his head down."

A son of Viking Ruler bred by Sir Patrick and Lady Justine Hogan, Our Roosta is from the Gr I family of Merlene (Golden Slipper, VRC Sires' Produce Stakes) and Miss Pennymoney (Newmarket Handicap, Australia Stakes).

Thurlow's team is dominated by younger horses with only the well-performed sprinter Our Umaga and two-time winner Yours among the older brigade.

"Our Umaga is coming up well and hopefully we'll have some more fun with him," said Thurlow.

The Centaine nine-year-old has been a wonderful moneyspinner for the stable with 11 wins and 12 placings from his 36 starts.

Our Umaga, who won the Listed Pegasus Stakes at Riccarton last year, was bought privately by Thurlow for $4000 and has now won nearly $200,000.