Competitor No 35 looked sprightly and had high hopes of success as he lined up against 50 other starters for the first Australia Day race of 2017.
But just a few seconds later, his life came to an untimely end on the bottom of one punter's thong.
That was the way the cockie crumbled on Thursday as the annual Cockroach Races got underway at Brisbane's Story Bridge Hotel.
A sprightly insect by the name of Roachell claimed honours in race one as she crossed the finish line.
But it came as no surprise to owner Gayle Coleman, who said she knew she was on to a winner.
"I won six years ago for race one so that's why I got here for the first one," she said.
Cindy Jarratt had dressed herself head-to-toe in the Aussie flag, but it was not enough to get her cockroach Nitrateroach over the line.
Her pride and joy didn't even score a place.
When asked why Ms Jarratt had decided to take part in this year's event, she said: "It's Australia Day, come on".
"It's an Australian thing to do," she told AAP.
The cockroach races have been a feature of the Story Bridge Hotel's Australia Day festivities for 36 years.
Up to 50 insects are released from a bucket on to a round mat for each of the 14 races, with the first to make it over the outer circle declared the winner.
The most popular name on the day will be entered into the Hall of Fame, joining the likes of Novak Cockavich, Cocky Longstockings and Vodka, Lime and Roaches.
