Otago thoroughbred racing legend Brian Anderton was a satisfied man a matter of minutes after the Melbourne Cup yesterday.
And why not?
He had just watched Who Shot Thebarman, a horse he bred with his wife Lorraine, finish a gallant third in the 2014 edition of the race that stops two nations.
The local success was a highlight of Melbourne Cup Day at Wingatui, which suffered from a drop in crowd numbers - at just under 6000, they were 4000 lower than last year - due to the rain and icy wind.
Mr Anderton watched the race with other trainers in a small room just off the birdcage at Wingatui, and the controlled smile he gave suggested he was quietly chuffed with the result.
''It was a good thrill. They were both foreigners that beat him, weren't they?'' he said.
''So we were the first Australasian home.''
Who Shot Thebarman settled in the second half of the field before his jockey, Glen Boss, started to push him forward with 800m to go.
For a fleeting moment about 200m out, it looked like the plain bay gelding might resurrect memories of the victories by Taieri-bred Baghdad Note (1970) and Tawrrific (1989).
''It was a beautiful ride - he got his chance, he rallied and he went to the line strong,'' Mr Anderton said.
While it wasn't to be, Mr Anderton can justifiably be proud of Who Shot Thebarman's performance.
''To think that a little place like this - we've had Baghdad Note, Tawrrific and now him. And I'm sure Reformed ran third for Joe Brown many years ago [in 1952].
''For a little place that doesn't breed many horses, we do all right.''
Who Shot Thebarman was sold as a yearling to the O'Leary brothers, from Wanganui and Marton, who still own the 6-year-old now trained by leading Australian trainer Chris Waller.
But Who Shot Thebarman can truly be claimed as an Otago horse, having been conceived at the North Taieri stud White Robe Lodge.
The best could be yet to come from Who Shot Thebarman, who won the Auckland Cup in March.
''He's only a baby yet - he's only had 14 starts.''
Back home at White Robe Lodge, Who Shot Thebarman's mother, Ears Carol, lacked a sense of timing - her foal had still to arrive last night.
As in previous years, the day at Wingatui was a mixture of glitz and glamour and drunken excess, with a few people struggling to stay on their feet by the day's end.
Clutha-Taieri area response manager Senior Sergeant Alistair Dickie said police were happy with behaviour overall, with only three arrests - two for disorderly behaviour and one for theft.
However, the levels of intoxication, particularly among females, was disappointing.
''It's not a pleasant sight to see some of the girls in the states they get in.
''It's something we need to look at a wee bit closer, because ... strictly speaking they shouldn't be getting into the complex in that state.''
Otago Racing Club chief executive Andre Klein said the weather put a dampener on crowd numbers, with only 5890 turning up, after record crowds last year.
This came after ''nightmare'' conditions in the lead-up made it the toughest race day to organise in the 10 years he had been involved.
On Sunday morning, four tents were battered in gale-force winds, including the largest one on course, a 30m student tent, which was ''ripped to shreds''.
Mr Klein was pleased with the atmosphere and student turnout. Student Jennifer Noone (21) said the races were perfectly timed at the end of the year for students.
''Everyone has finished exams and ... wants to let loose.''
A highlight of the day was Fashions on the Field, which was won by Christchurch woman Maria Wright, who designed her own outfit and made it with her mother. She was ecstatic with the win and enjoyed her first time at Wingatui.
''It's exciting because there were a lot of really good outfits,'' she said.
