Starsky's Dream was back at the stalls after winning race 7, but just as he was being led away for a hose-down, trainer Graeme Anderson told his strapper to bring the horse back.
Why?
Because Mainland Banner's little half-brother, Titan Banner, and Starsky's Dream have a bit of a bromance - or is it horsemance? - going on.
Anderson explained the pair hang out next to each other at home, and Titan Banner is much more relaxed when Starsky's Dream is around, which is why Starsky's Dream's shower had to wait.
While Titan Banner's win - coming from last with 600m to go - was very impressive, Starsky's Dream was very smart winning his a c2-c3 2200m mobile pace in 2.44.4.
''He's come back really well - he's stronger and bigger,'' Anderson said.
''I found when I drove him at Oamaru the other day [at the trials] he's a lot more relaxed and Dexter [Dunn] said the same.''
Starsky's Dream is now a 4yr-old, and Anderson has to work out where to place him and whether to stick with mobile starts or try standing starts.
''He had two standing starts last year. One was good and the other one, there was a big hold-up there and he made a mess of it but we can probably put him on the unruly and get him out of that.''
Other alternatives for Starsky's Dream include a race at Gore next Saturday, or at Winton on October 19.
Titan Banner might been expected to win on debut, but when Peter Ponsonby has a first-starter lining up at the races, he has also got more reason than most to be confident.
And so it proved with Arizona Pete's debut for Roxburgh trainers Geoff and Jude Knight on Thursday night.
The son of Ohoka Arizona provided Ponsonby, who ended his stint as Tuapeka Harness Racing Club president last month, with his fifth winner on debut.
Others to win at their first attempt were Rap at Motukarara in 1999, Dreamella at Motukarara in 2001, Tricky Valley at Rangiora in 1994 and her son Larado at Geraldine in 2005.
Ponsonby has now reached 26 wins as an owner, while horses he has either raced or sold have won 128 races across Australasia.
Co-trainer Geoff Knight said early preparations with Arizona Pete suggested he had gait issues.
''He just needed a bit of time, and we brought him back at 3 and he was still a bit rough-going,'' he said.
''We turned him out again and got him back in and he was much improved and had got a lot stronger.''
Arizona Pete might do his future racing off-shore. Otherwise Knight could consider a run at Winton later this month with him.
