The first two heats of the Otago Daily Times (ODT) Southern Mile were run under winter conditions at Wingatui on Boxing Day, with the track rated a Heavy 10.

Corista and Sestina convincingly won their respective heats, gaining maximum points toward qualifying for the $200,000 final on 2 March 2024.

The three minor placings in both heats were separated by the barest of margins, highlighting the competitive nature of the Series.

Heat 3 will be contested on New Year’s Day at Riverton and has attracted a field of 20 which includes six ballots.

A full breakdown of each heat, results and rankings is available to view here.