The progressive stayer was denied a chance at the $100,000 Riverton Cup on April 4 after being placed first on the ballot.
All 16 runners who made the field lined up, leaving Wingatui trainer Joanne Hillis - and runner No 17 Wild Bill - to accept a consolation prize instead.
That prize was not bad, a $18,500 rating 75 2147m which he nabbed by a nose over Motorboat Mike, but Hillis is pleased the 5yr-old is taking his place in the 2500m feature tomorrow.
What she does hope, however, is that there is more sun than rain before tomorrow's meeting, as the son of Viking Ruler steps up over his longest trip to date.
''They've got a few dry days coming up so hopefully its not as wet as it is now,'' Hillis said on Wednesday when the track was rated a slow7.
''He's gone on a wet track before and handled it fine but the thing is it's a wee bit further distance which is the telling thing and it's been a month since he's raced. All these things come into it, really.''
Wild Bill has forged an excellent record in his 16 starts, winning four and placing eight times. In fact, he has finished further back than fifth only twice in the process of collecting $61,575 in prize money.
''He's pretty good-natured. He takes everything in his stride,'' she said.
The gelding has drawn barrier 4 which should give apprentice jockey Racha Cuneen plenty of options from the gates.
''I guess it does help a little bit but it doesn't make a lot of difference. They sort themselves out fairly early in the piece down the straight.''
Two races later, The Diamond One and Hexie Hao are Claire and Hec Anderton's two representatives in the listed Great Easter Stakes.
They are joined by the Brian and Shane Anderton-trained Tommy Tucker and the Terry Kennedy-prepared Chapel Star in the open 1400m, giving Wingatui-trained horses a strong hand in the feature.
The Diamond One has recovered from her North Island sojourn which ended on a down note when she dropped out in the group 1 New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders Stakes at Te Aroha.
''She's got over it good now,'' Hec Anderton said.
''Her blood count was all to hell up there. We gave her time off and she was actually treated in Auckland and then sent home and she's picked up good.''
The Diamond One has shown in the past she can handle a rain-affected track, and Anderton has no qualms about a slow track or worse.
''I don't think the heavy track would hurt her. It's a hard track that she's not capable of handling more so than a bit of water.''
He indicated tomorrow's race would likely be The Diamond One's last for the season.
Hexie Hao is having his third start back after a spell, with runs at Riverton and Riccarton producing a fourth and seventh respectively.
''Hexie has been a wee bit of a problem boy but he seems to be coming up pretty good. They worked together [on Tuesday] and they worked well.
''They can both go and take their spots. They deserve it.''
Leading apprentice Rory Hutchings will again take the reins on The Diamond One.
