Maskiell rode for the first time yesterday since a careless riding and whip-related offences at the Swan Hill meeting over the June long weekend had him suspended for three weeks.

Yesterday, he was aboard former Victorian galloper Bitter Dan ($7.10) who scored a last-stride win over Lacey Azz in the McCrimmon Insurances Plate (1620m), but found himself in trouble with the stewards when they said he had overused the whip over the last 100 metres.

"He was found to have hit the horse six times but, if he hadn't hit him with the last one, he wouldn't have won," trainer John Blacker said.

Maskiell has a history of whip-related offences and after his digression at Swan Hill the apprentice skills' panel recommended he have only limited rides, at least until the new season begins.

As a result, he had only three mounts on yesterday's eight-event program and will now be forced to miss the next two meetings after being suspended again.

"Kyle's got to learn, but I have no doubt he'll come right and he's going to be a top jockey," Blacker said.

Bitter Dan is raced by Blacker's partner, Penny Cawthen, on lease from Bendigo City mayor Barry Lyon.

Bitter Dan was having his third local start and, after running second at Devonport on June 7, Blacker believes he might have backed up a little too quickly for his next run.

He expects the horse to be suited when he races over 1800m or 2000m.

Sale pays off

WESLEY Vale trainer John Keys' decision to target the Gold Coast yearling sales again paid dividends when heavily backed favourite Brightness ($2.00) led all the way for a two-length win in the Cascade Brewery 2YO Maiden Plate (1120m).

Keys has made a habit of attending the Gold Coast sales and over the years has bought a number of yearlings.

"It is the last sale of the year and quite often yearlings go quite cheap," he said. "Breeders are keen to get rid of them. They don't want to take them home as their next lot of youngsters are coming on."

Keys said Brightness had failed to meet her reserve of $16,000 and in a conversation with the breeder later he managed to get the daughter of Dane Shadow for $10,000.

His past practice is to leave the yearlings in Queensland under the warmer sun and have them broken in at Beaudesert before they come to Tasmania almost ready to race as two-year-olds.

He said Brightness "wasn't all that big" and would be spelled before coming back in the new season.

Keys' daughter Tegan completed a family double when Spirit Of Nia completed the hat-trick by making it three in a row in the Governor's Plate (1620m).

Keys previously trained Spirit Of Nia but decided to send the mare to his daughter to train at Seven Mile Beach.

"The chance to train on the beach was one of the main reasons for the switch," he said.

Spirit Of Nia was ridden by claiming apprentice Vanessa Medcraft after David Pires had been in the saddle for the previous two wins.

Spirit Of Nia was handicapped with 60kg and the trainer thought Medcraft's 3kg claim would be a bonus as well as a reward for the hard work the apprentice has done at home with the mare.

Winning touch

FORMER top trainer Michael Trinder has scaled back his Spreyton operation and has only four horses in work but showed he hasn't lost his winning hand when Princess Atilla ($11.20) was successful in the Kevin Sharkie Maiden Plate (1420m).

Trinder rarely trains fillies but took on the three-year-old when approached by prominent North-West owner Bob Milne.

The trainer said the filly showed staying potential and could handle wet tracks. As a result, he will keep Princess Atilla going and hopes to get her out over more distance.

Trinder praised Brendon McCoull for the winning ride.

"He was able to pilot the right course up the straight," he said.

McCoull continues to trail David Pires by six wins after Pires won the opening race on Brightness.