Former Victorian galloper Mr Causeway proving his worth for new stable after second Albany victory

Former Victorian galloper Mr Causeway is quickly repaying connections after scoring a smart victory in Albany on Boxing Day, his second since transferring to the stables of Roy Rogers. Mr Causeway was a dominant winner of the final race on Sunday, perfectly ridden by Jason Whiting who finished with a double on the seven-race card. Rogers acquired Mr Causeway from Clinton McDonald earlier this year after the Zebedee gelding only won a maiden in 10 Victorian starts. The five-year-old was an impressive winner at his first WA start for Rogers, winning over 1100m in Albany in November and was then unplaced at two subsequent runs in Albany and Ascot. Mr Causeway jumped a $3.60 favourite in an open betting affair in the White Claw Handicap (1230m) and sat on speed for Whiting. They turned for home in third spot and despite carrying 59kg, Mr Causeway found plenty in the final 200m to sprint clear and record a slashing 2.5-length win over Candijay. Rogers had a winning double at the meeting after new stable runner Kia Ora Star won a desperately close finish to the Dixie Solly Memorial Handicap (1100m). Kia Ora Star, formerly with Michael Lane, was a $14 chance on tote and was able to hold off the fast-finishing stablemate Kendel’s Mee Dad by a short half-head on the line. The Rogers runners were well clear of the third placed Sir Snugalot. Apprentice Keshaw Dhurun lifted Kia Ora Star to win in the dying stages under the heavy 60kg impost. Astrape and Grand Design gave Rogers a winning double at Belmont on Tuesday. Whiting enjoyed a successful day after earlier booting home Acting God, to end a frustrating run of minor placings for trainer Bruce Watkins. Acting God was extremely short in betting and started a $1.30 chance in the Heineken 0.0 Maiden (1600m) given he had seven minor placings to his name in nine career starts. The four-year-old was trapped wide but let down well in the home straight to win by half a length over Kutsanya.