But while Whackomaco came back at the head of the field after the 1400m race, a bunch of guys from Dunedin could not get the smiles off their faces as Hell Raiser picked up $40,000 for her sixth placing.
How, you might ask?The answer can be found at the South Island sale in August last year, when Dunedin account manager Shane Forgie checked out a 2yr-old grey filly by Any Suggestion. He asked Wingatui trainer Steven Prince and Jackie Deans to cast their eye over the filly, which Prince bought for $5000.
''Steve and Jackie had a look over here and thought she looked all right,'' Forgie said.
''She was a bit small but she was quite a late foal and I thought she'd mature a little bit - and the Any Suggestions go all right.''
Silver Fern Farms integrated marketing programme manager Jason Coutts and his wife, Charlotte Young, came on board in the ownership, along with Coutts' workmates Nathan Campbell and Adam Brown.
Only three horses in yesterday's 1400m race were eligible for the bonus and Hell Raiser's sixth - after leading early - was enough to get her the one-off bonus ahead of Pentultimate (ninth) and Our Castle (11th ).
''You take your chances, and have a bit of fun, and we've been lucky to get some dollars in the bank.''
Hell Raiser only made the trip to Riccarton because of the bonus, of which $30,000 went to the owners, $5000 to Prince and $5000 to the breeders.
''If it wasn't a bonus race, she wouldn't be here - but she'll win a race at Winton all right,'' Prince said.
''It was a great incentive and you've got to have a go - and it paid off.''
Hell Raiser would have two weeks off before returning to racing after Christmas, Prince said.
