But Perfect Scenario did win the feature race at Wingatui on Saturday.
The 5yr-old bay gelding upstaged Matamata stablemate Prise De Fer to win the $100,000 White Robe Lodge.
He sprinted home to win the weight-for-age feature over 1600m by three lengths from Live Drama and Rock Sensation, who had to settle for second and third respectively.
Perfect Scenario’s race did not go to plan. The horse was slow out of the gate and trailed most the field for the first half of the race.
Only Prise De Fer was in the rear-vision mirror as the field approached the home turn.
Perfect Scenario got a dream run around the bend, though, and sprinted clear of the traffic with 300m to go to win the 50th running of the White Robe Lodge-sponsored race.
Trainer Mark Walker did not make the trip to Dunedin but assistant Sam Bergerson was thrilled with the result.
"We got back further than we thought we’d get back," Bergerson said.
"But fair play to [apprentice jockey] Joe [Kamaruddin]. He rode for luck and it ended up being a great ride. I’m stoked for Joe; he puts in a lot of work at home. It is great to see him get a group 3 win."
"Maybe the track was a bit firm late in the day, I’m not really sure. He raced very dour, tailed off and sort of came again late. We’ll see how he pulls up and go from there."
Te Akau Racing team had a big win further north when Family Ties scored in the Oaks Prelude over 1800m at New Plymouth 15 minutes earlier.
Specialty returned to winning ways at Wingatui with a dominant performance in the Dunedin Guineas over 1500m to revive future group 1 hopes.
The son of Rip Van Winkle had finished a beaten favourite at his previous appearance in rating 75 company at Gore after racing three wide and laying in under pressure, but he turned his form around in fine style in the 3yr-old feature.
The addition of blinkers and a firmer surface were also instrumental in Specialty recapturing his best form and boosted confidence ahead of a planned trip north.
"He’ll go to Invercargill first for the Southland Guineas and then on to Wellington," said Bruce Tapper, who trains in partnership with Varma Ramhit.
Specialty settled midfield and one off the fence before regular rider Brandon May urged the gelding around runners near the turn.
They strode to the front 200m from home and romped clear to beat the hot favourite Romancing The Moon by a length and a half with Charbano a distant third.
The Otago Daily Times Southern Mile qualifier — the last race of the meeting — was won by Prince Alby.
The 4yr-old bay entire made a mad dash for the finish line and won the race in a photo finish from La Opcion and Fame Shines.
