AFTER a shock start to the week Monegheeta based training pair David and Lisa Miles regained a little more spring in their step by producing a winning double with their only two runners at Tabcorp Park in Melton on Thursday.

The highly successful husband and wife training team were stunned early in the week when stable star Villagem was removed from their care with little notice.

Villagem had reached Grand Circuit status with the Miles and won 21 races with 20 placings for $553,478 in stakes.

But his racing for the past season has been hampered by a mystery virus and he has been restricted to just 10 starts this season and now he has now been handed to top NSW trainer Luke McCarthy to train.

David said: "I had no idea it was coming. The first I knew about was when I got a text message on my phone."

He went on to explain how he had made numerous calls to the USA and sent a number of samples there and had just worked out Villagem’s problems but he was reluctant to talk much more on the matter.

While certainly not in the calibre of Villagem, the winning double on Thursday showed the depth of talent in the Miles’ stables.

The first of the two winners Ourbellabro ($2.70) rewarded David’s confidence in moving around the field early to sit outside the leader Better Abs ($2.30 fav.) in the 1720m C0 pace, race two.

While Better Abs faded to finish third, Ourbellabro kept on finding in the home straight and held off a late charge from Diamond Smile ($13.90) to win by a head.

It was an even tighter finish for the second Miles’ winner when Arlington Road ($5.00) got there in the last bound in the Pacers Handicap, race seven, to win by a nose from Flash Of Freedom ($10.60) with Shandon Village ($31.20) a half head away third.

The Miles will be looking for further consolation at Tabcorp Park on Friday night where they will produce three of the finalists in the Group 1 Victoria Oaks.

David will be driving Paintball in the final with Lisa piloting Braeview Creation and the reins for Jasmine Sheffield have been handed to Rodney Petroff.

David said the stable had engaged Petroff to drive because of his prowess with the whip in the left hand.

"A bit like Craig Newitt in the gallops I think the left-handed whip might help," Miles said.

"She’s a very good sit and sprint filly who should hold a forward spot and be right in the finish."

Jasmine Sheffield has drawn the pole and should should get a soft run from barrier one.but the other two have drawn the second row and will need a bit of luck in running to figure in the finish.

The Victoria Oaks is not a Grand Circuit event but a win would be a far better end to the week than the way it started.

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NSW harness racing has been rocked by the report that a horse prepared by leading trainer Luke McCarthy has returned a positive swab.

McCarthy joins a long list of trainers under investigation after a tumultuous change in the Stewards panel late last year.

A sample taken from McCarthy’s horse Mach Wiper has shown traces of the banned steroid boldenone.

Harness Racing NSW issued a statement saying: “A report from the Australian Racing Forensic Laboratory (ARFL) that boldenone, at a level greater than 15 micrograms per litre in urine, has been detected in a post race urine sample taken from MACH WIPER following its win in the NXFM Newcastle Cup (2550metres) run at Newcastle on 9 December 2011.

The “B” sample and the control were sent to the Hong Kong Jockey Club Racing Laboratory (HKJC) for confirmation, and the HKJC has today confirm the presence of boldenone in the post race urine sample taken from MACH WIPER on 9 December 2011.

Trainer Mr Luke McCarthy has been advised of these findings. An inquiry will be conducted at a time and date to be fixed.

Acting under the provisions of Australian Harness Racing Rule 183 (A), MACH WIPER has been stood down until further notice.

McCarthy is currently the leading trainer in NSW with a total of 129 winners for well over $1,300,000 in stakes.

A winner at 24 of his 52 race starts Mach Wiper would have been a serious contender in the 2012 Inter Dominion series which begins at Gloucester Park in Perth on Friday.

THE lure of the strong Australian dollar has gained the attention of top New Zealand trainer Brendon Hill who is planning a three State raid on the Australian east coast.

For a start he has his eyes set on the rich New South Wales prizemoney in the coming months with his smart performers Timeless Perfection and Ultimate Player, but that is merely dipping his toes in the water.

Best known as the trainer of grand circuit star Monkey King, Hill is also looking at some of the higher class events in Brisbane and Melbourne.

Initially Hill will remaiin in New Zealand with Timeless Perfection and Ultimate Player expected to be handed to local trainer Luke McCarthy in the short term for the first strike on NSW.

 “I have spoken with Luke (McCarthy) about it and while nothing is official it makes sense for me to send some horses over to target the great prizemoney at Menangle,” Hill said.

“I am going to take Carabella over for either the Queensland or Australian Oaks so I might take another two with me and leave those in Sydney before coming home.”

Timeless Perfection has only recently returned from a bowed tendon but Hill believes she has the speed to record a very slick time around the 1400 metre track.

“She has the ability to go a fair way, maybe not all the way against the best mares but our aim with her would be to see her race well in Australia before bringing her home to breed with because I really like her and she does have a lot of ability.”

“Ultimate Player is a lovely horse and we would look to win some of the big money before selling him to new interests to continue his career in Australia, it just makes sense now because the stakes here at home are going nowhere and you have to be where the money is.”

Hill has yet to finalise an Australian campaign for New Zealand Oaks winner Carabella but expects to have a better idea of her short term future early next month.