The Any Suggestion filly made up for bad luck at her previous start to beat the hot favourite, Excelleration, in the 1400m feature.
Courte Zarindi was desperately unlucky in the Southland Guineas on February 17, but had the breaks go her way courtesy of a perfect ride by Tina Comignaghi.
McKay selected Courte Zarindi to buy when she was a weanling for the bargain price of just $600.
The winner’s slice of Saturday’s $50,000 stake means her owners, Bill McNamara and Sam Fryer, will bank almost 50 times that outlay.
They could have cashed in even more from big-money offers for the filly, who descends from the family of Horlicks, but the owners have declined.
"I bought six at that sale but she was the one I really wanted. I was shocked when I got her so cheap — it’s all I had in the bank at the time," McKay said.
Courte Zarindi’s win came as a nice bonus for her connections as McKay was targeting next month’s two listed races for 3yr-olds over 1600m and 2000m at Riccarton as her main aims.
"It [Saturday’s win] was a nice surprise. We were just looking to get a run into her for the two races for fillies coming up at Christchurch."The mile [1600m] will be perfect and the 2000m shouldn’t worry her.
"She’s a lovely horse with a very bright future."
Like many of her rivals, Courte Zarindi was stepping back in distance on Saturday.
"I thought the 1400m would be too short for her but she did it easy," McKay said.
It was Comignaghi’s first listed race win.
"I rode the filly in her first two starts and really liked her, so I was pleased that Sally rang me to get back on her," she said.
The win, which the Canterbury jockey described as a big thrill, also served as reward for her patience with her long struggle with injuries.
The $2.40 favourite, Excelleration, was given a perfect run in the one-one by rider Jason Laking who peeled her out for her challenge on the home turn.
Though the filly was bumped and lost some momentum in the straight, Courte Zarindi was simply too good for her.
