Last year, apprentice jockey Corey Campbell was just another racing fan at Wingatui on Melbourne Cup day.
This year he was the star of the show.
And he did it after only starting his riding career as a jockey in March.
The 16-year-old won the first two races on the Wingatui card for his employers Brian and Shane Anderton with Erin's Babe in race 1 and Fascinate in race 2, and then won race 6 with Zabay for the trainers as well.
He described the thrill of riding his first winning treble - and what would have been his first double - as a dream come true.
''I have been watching these races for 16 years so to be out here and winning is like a dream come true,'' Campbell said.
At last year's meeting the teenager was working as a strapper, leading horses to and from the Wingatui birdcage as part of his employment with the Anderton stable.
Campbell admitted the idea he would be back at Wingatui in 12 months' time starring as a jockey would not have been in his wildest dreams last year.
''I don't really have words for it; it is just amazing.
''I am very lucky to get on such nice horses. I am grateful for Brian and Shane for putting me on and all of the owners for putting their faith in me.''
All three wins came from patient and almost identical rides as Campbell launched his two mounts for their runs in the home straight after settling behind the speed.
Erin's Babe became the sixth winning foal of broodmare Mega Babe when she let down too strongly for her maiden rivals.
Erin's Babe is a half sister to classy performers Patrick Erin and Gallant Boy, who ran third in yesterday's 1400m open handicap.
The mare stepping back from the 2000m of her previous start at Gore to the 1600m of yesterday's race may have put some punters off backing her.
But it did not worry Brian Anderton, who has seen more than his fair share of maiden miles at Wingatui with its long uphill straight.
''Sixteen hundred metres out here on this track is like running 2000m anywhere else.''
Anderton also thought the Wingatui course would be perfect for Zabay and he was proved correct when the horse ran away to win race 6.
''I think she is a big track horse.
''She is improving all the time. Hopefully, she is going to get better from Christmas on. Fillies do.''
Fascinate had to prove herself in race 2 to warrant a trip to Riccarton for next week's Canterbury Breeders Stakes and she did exactly that by winning.
Again, she and Campbell boomed down the outside for a comfortable win.
Fellow White Robe Lodge rider Shankar Muniandy also notched a career achievement on yesterday's programme by winning on Macy in race 8.
The popular jockey knew the milestone was looming and thought Gallant Defender might have been the horse to do it until he missed the start in race 3, he said.
Instead, it was left to the ever-consistent Terry Kennedy-trained Macy to bring up Muniandy's 200th win in New Zealand.
Muniandy's career record was already past 200 wins going into yesterday with his handful of victories and one group 1 win riding in his native Malaysia.
