A win at the South Island’s flagship racecourse was one of the only things missing from the CV of accomplished Winton galloper Midnight Runner, and the nine-year-old ticked that box with a barnstorming come-from-behind performance in Saturday’s Daphne Bannan Memorial (1200m) at Riccarton.

Southland trainer Robert Dennis is making the long trek north to Riccarton with two contenders for their Saturday meeting, including Lofty’s Gift who is shooting for her fifth straight win in the Taggart Earthmoving Rating 75 (2000m).

The winning roll of Lofty’s Gift continued at Wingatui on Sunday, the consistent mare going four in a row with a hard-fought victory in The Mosgiel Tavern (2200m).