Areuforreel was formerly with Bulls trainer Kevin Myers, but he was keen to move the Shinko King mare on despite a good second at Hokitika in mid-January.
Riverton trainer Kelvin Tyler happened to be the right trainer in the right place.
''He just gave it to us - he was having a really bad day,'' Tyler said.
Tyler instantly found some owners for the 4yr-old - Allan and Emma McIntosh of Makarewa, Frank Petch, Tyler's son, Michael, and the Weareforreel Syndicate, which is made up of members of the Singer family of Hokitika.
Yesterday's victory over 2000m was just her third start for Tyler, and he likes what he sees.
''She's tough. She just wants to run,'' Tyler said.
''She knows what to do. You push the button and she takes off.
''She wants 2000m and loves the bad going. We've got a few races coming up at Riverton so that will suit her.''
Omakau appears to suit the progeny of Ruby's Gem as Gallant Ruby dashed away to win her maiden 1100m by 5 lengths.
The 3yr-old filly is just one of two products of the Personal Escort mare, Ruby's Gem, who died two years ago. Gallant Ruby's full sister, Ruby's Rose, broke her maiden status at Omakau in January.
Ruby's Gem was a handy galloper in her own right for Brian and Lorraine Anderton, Dave and Cecily Cochrane, of Kaka Point, and Stu and Colleen Rutter, of Balclutha, winning six races from 45 starts.
''It's good to see the mum coming through with [Gallant] Guru,'' Rutter said.
Brian Anderton, who co-trains the filly with son Shane, said her jump-out form had been strong.
''We had a wee problem with her. She had a throat infection but we got that cleaned up.''
Michael Pitman's patience with I'm Maveric paid off when the son of Strategic Image prevailed by a head over All Spice in the rating 85 1100m.
The 7yr-old's last start for Pitman and co-owners John Carran and Joan McFinn was at Kumara on January 11.
''I've waited and waited. I haven't had him in anywhere. I've just waited for here,'' Pitman said.
''[Jamie Bullard] rode him at Kumara and said he was an absolute certainty beaten and he ran second-last.''
Pitman said the 1100m distance of yesterday's race suited, as did the smaller track. I'm Maveric's next start will be at Wingatui on March 8.
Nolawood was supposed to be in the North Island when the racing was under way yesterday, but Riccarton trainer Peter Rudkin was happy to be talked around after he took a team to New Plymouth for the February 15 meeting.
''It went a top race up there,'' Rudkin said.
''I was going to leave it up there and it was actually going to be sacked but the owners talked me into bringing her back down here.
''When the track was wet this morning, I thought we didn't think we'd have a chance.
''But I was saying all day it wasn't a really heavy track and if we could get her out wide, it's not very deep and obviously it worked.''
