It was a case of saving the best for last in a thrilling finish to yesterday's racing.

And it came as a stunning revenge over Nateway, driven by Michael DeCosta, who had beaten him earlier in the day.

Drawn on the outside for both races Eddie Roque and Shamrock Tuxedo were never up to their record-breaking finest.

The first race proved to be a nightmare on Vesey Street for the pair, with Nateway leading from the start. Roque was doing everything he could to get around the outside but only managed to impede Eddie The Great and Charles Whited.

The wheels of the carts touched and Whited was forced to pull up sending him way back. Nateway finished strongly with Shamrock Tuxedo close and Eddie the Great trailing behind.

A steward's inquiry found Shamrock Tuxedo at fault and gave Eddie The Great second place.

In the final heat it again looked as if being drawn on the outside would prove too much for the track record-holder as Nateway led from the start.

But Roque timed it perfectly to give Shamrock Tuxedo that final push and steal it on the line, by a nose. The time of 1:11/2 was four seconds outside their best.

DeCosta said: "We have beaten him before and I thought we had won again, it was just on the line.

"Shamrock Tuxedo is a good horse and Nateway is getting a little old now.'' It was a mixed day for DeCosta who ended with the one win, three seconds, three thirds and a fourth place. Two of his third places were defeats by his son Nicholas. Both DeCostas were pushed out by Paschall Ducket, driving Trotacre "Abby'' Lass to victory in heats three and seven.

Nicholas, driving Tuff's Little Missy, was easily ahead of Michael and Diamondway in heat three, but Michael made a fight of it in the second encounter and almost snatched second place off his son.

He said: "He is turning into a very good racer. I think I might have taught him too well.'' The fastest partnership of the day was Ponderbabe and Daniel Greenslade recording a time of 1:10/2 in winning their second race over Hoe Down Don, Gusto's Cracker Jack and the disappointing Abby Dabby Doo.

It was the only time the one-minute, 11-second barrier was breached all day long.

The day had started with problems for Roque and his new horse Miss Saigon.

Described as "a handful,'' the horse broke into a gallop in its contest with Streakin' Deakin and Teddy Adderley. It forced Roque to pull hard on the reins effectively ending the race, although they managed to finish quite strongly.

In the second meeting, heat five, both Miss Saigon and Streakin' Deakin were "off their feet'' but Roque regained his horse's composure and they went on to take revenge by nearly five seconds.

Tina's Princess and Timmy Boyles recorded two excellent times to win their two heats against V Six and Misty's Little Dream. There was no revenge for Roque, driving V Six, on this occasion.

Other impressive performers at Vesey Street were Just A Gigolo, driven by Michael Roberts, and Motown Scott, driven by Derek Seymour.