But when you combine arguably New Zealand's greatest trotting stallion with a group 1-winning mare and one of New Zealand's best ever trotting trainers, the result can be - well - magical.
So it proved at Oamaru on Sunday when Waterloo Sunset came from a hopeless position to win the c1-c2 trot in the closing strides.
The 5yr-old is by super stallion Sundon and is out of Inspire, who won the 2006 Rowe Cup at just her 11th career start - a staggering rise to open-class stardom.
Waterloo Sunset had already fashioned a tidy record of two wins and three placings from seven starts prior to Sunday for Leeston trainer Paul Nairn, but win No 3 was looking unlikely with 600m to go.
He was at the back of the bunch, 15 lengths off the leader, Monty Python, and even driver Bob Butt had his doubts.
''I thought we were not much of a show here,'' Butt said.
''There was a big wall - we went hard so I knew they would come back to me a little bit.
"I was following not a bad one [The Silver Fox] and thought I could get a cart into it.
''I then thought I'd have no show coming wider, so I thought I'd try my luck coming back through the middle and I got a gap.''
Even at the 300m mark, Waterloo Sunset was about 10 lengths off the leader, Monty Python, but he used his powerful frame to mow down Ottawa who had taken the lead in the final 200m.
All this without a workout or a trial.
''He's had nothing - but Paul's a master trainer. Paul's Paul - unreal really.''
Reports suggest Nairn has a good opinion of the lightly-raced 5yr-old, who has been beating Lotalov (9 wins) in track work at home.
''He could have a nice season,'' Butt said.
''I think Paul thinks a bit of him - he's nominated for the Dominion [Handicap].
''We'll just see how he keeps going - he's got a few wee issues. Being a big fella, he gets a bit worked up but if he works through them, even in another year he will be a really nice horse.
''He'll work his way through the grades, but it's just whether he takes that next step or not.''
Waterloo Sunset, who remains an entire due to his excellent breeding and stallion potential, looked like a hulk of a horse as he trotted back to the stables on Sunday.
''He's impressive-looking,'' Butt said.
