The members of the Chasing The Dream and In Snow We Trust syndicates sounded like they were close to lifting the roof of the Wingatui grandstand with their roars as their horse clinched her victory in the shadows of the post.
Belle Hope handed many in her big group of owners their first win with the first horse they have raced.
The Falkirk galloper came south after having 10 starts from Shaune Richie’s Cambridge stable.
"She showed a bit up there. Shaune said she would win races," Prince said.
Finding a spare box in her stable for Absolute Gold paid off for trainer Claire Anderton at Wingatui yesterday.
The galloper ran to an impressive victory in her second start for her new trainer.
Anderton was approached by the horse’s North Island owners to take the horse, but she initially said no.
The change of mind looks set to pay more dividends for the trainer this winter, judging by the horse’s easy victory in race 2.
"Initially I said no because I had my four horses in work and wasn’t looking for any more," Anderton said.
"But I had a look at her form and thought I wouldn’t mind getting her."
Absolute Gold has provided her trainer and owners with a mini roller-coaster ride since moving south.
The horse bolted when going out of the birdcage before being caught and putting in a fair effort in her first southern start earlier this month.
She threatened to do the same thing again when her bridle came undone during her presentation photo yesterday.
But Absolute Gold spared her connections any more race-day dramas and stood quietly as cameras flashed.
The strength of the 6yr-old’s win suggests she will be in for a decent winter.
Though it may be better for punters to follow her on heavy tracks that are close to the soft range, as she did not handle a bottomless Ascot Park in her previous start.
"It just shows you the difference between Invercargill and here, because she couldn’t go a yard in it the other day," Anderton said.
Squizzy added to the good fortunes Wingatui trainers had on their home track yesterday when she won race 7.
The Noel Graham-trained galloper flew late to just grab runner-up Hilarious in the closest of finishes.
Squizzy has previously shown his liking for heavy tracks with a booming maiden win almost 12 months ago.
It is race tempo that is the biggest factor in whether he can keep showing his best when he meets more conditions to his liking further into winter.
