But there was no chance of mixed emotions yesterday as Hunt watched his mare Slice Of Class unwind in style to win the group 3 Valachi Downs Canterbury Breeders Stakes at Riccarton.
Hunt, who is a bookmaker for the TAB in Wellington, was the sole ownership representative on course out of a bunch of mates, which includes fellow bookie Scott Hunt.
''This is the best,'' Hunt said.
''Forget the emotions in and out from work on trading races, but owning your own horse and seeing it at the finish line in first place - whether it's maiden victory or stakes company - there's no better feeling.''
Hunt and the majority of the syndicate have raced horses with Otaki trainer Karen Zimmerman in the past, including Kabuki (two wins) and Mamasan (three).
''The last four or five we've leased but this is the first one we've owned. So as it's worked out, it's a pretty good one to own.
''We've had Kabuki with Karen, and we've had Mamasan with Karen and they've all won races with her - we all thought before they got injured that they'd be black-type performers. But they never got that far on the track to do so.''
Slice Of Class, an $11,000 purchase as a weanling at a mixed bloodstock sale in 2011, was facing arguably her toughest test, taking on open-class mares such as The Solitaire and Sucre, along with the talented 4yr-old Costa Viva.
But Hunt was not too concerned by the weight, particularly after a solid fourth against Costa Viva (third) at Trentham in January.
''I think if you gave Costa Viva a chance in the race, you had to fit our horse in because we got beaten by a pimple by her in the Desert Gold and we met her 1.5kg better off today,'' Hunt said.
''Owning a 4yr-old mare, it's all about chasing black type - she's probably one of the most progressive types in the race. Whether it was six months early we weren't quite sure, but as it's resulted, it's been beautiful.''
Zimmerman knows what it takes to win the Valachi after tasting success with Barinka in 2009.
''It's a nice race for the fillies and mares,'' Zimmerman said.
''She's travelled down here before and run fourth in the Warstep so it was a good race to target.''
