As Bryan ''Ginger'' Woodhouse took his mare, City Courage, off for a wash-down, trainers and drivers gave him a hearty ''well done, Ginge''.
And with good reason.
City Courage's win - her first - comes on the back of 18 previous starts as a trotter. But when you add her 48 winless starts as a pacer, it has been a tough road for Woodhouse and the daughter of Courage Under Fire as they have chased an elusive win.
Woodhouse's last win as a trainer came through Woodlands Lifeline at Nelson in June 2009, but City Courage provided him with another first, even at this stage of his career.
''It's the first one I've leased that I've got a dollar off,'' Woodhouse said.
The Omakau-based trainer picked up the mare when she was a yearling, on a lease which he shares with his daughter, Tracy. City Courage had always shown an inclination to trot, despite being by a pacing sire.
''I was only hoppling her on the day of the races, and I was galloping her [in training].
''In the end, she wouldn't gallop - she'd trot. So I looked through her family and there are three open-class trotters way back.''
A trip to Oamaru on July 14 is on the cards, as is another trip back to Forbury Park on July 18.
''I'll take her up there and then back here,'' he said.
''She's getting more tractable now.''
City Courage is well-tried as she nears 70 starts, but Woodhouse hopes he can get two or three more wins out of her.
