Ascot Park trainer Jo-Ann Dalton won the last two races and at the start of the day, neither winning jockey had been booked to ride their mounts.
Picture Me Rollin produced a big finish to win for rider Rohan Mudhoo, who replaced the injured Brett Murray.
Murray was stood down after the first race after aggravating a wrist injury.
Adding insult to injury was the fact the second of Dalton's horses Murray was booked to ride also won.
In similar style to his stablemate, Aulyn Star produced a huge finish to win for replacement rider Gee Saejorhor.
Kavish Chowdhoory filled in for Murray on Zeedam in race 3.
During the ambulance ride from Wingatui to Dunedin Hospital, he would have been wishing he had not.
Chowdhoory was dislodged from the saddle when his mount clipped the heels of a tiring runner.
The apprentice was diagnosed with a suspected concussion.
The race was won by one of four visiting North Island riders, Doni Prastiyou.
The Pukekohe-based jockey, who served his apprenticeship at Wingatui, had Roc The Cradle in the one-one for much of the trip before working the horse into the race approaching the home turn.
The 4yr-old toughed out a half-length victory for Riccarton trainer Andrew Carston.
Fellow North Island jockeys Dylan Turner and Leah Hemi also scored wins at the meeting.
Turner combined with local trainer Steven Prince to win race 6 with Belle Hope.
The victory continued the good results the combination had produced.
"I came down one day for three or four rides and I had one or two for him [Prince] and they went good, and from then on every time I have come down I have had four or five rides for him," Turner said.
"The main reason I come down here is for Steven. He is a massive supporter of mine."
Belle Hope unwound strongly down the outside of the track to win an exciting race set up by tearaway leader Plutonium.
"The plan was just to ride her where she was comfortable.
"She was comfortable back in the field. She has just got a massive heart and she has done it on that," Turner said.
"It was a little bit scary because the leader had eight lengths on the rest of the field."
Leah Hemi combined with Winton trainer Leda Beck to win race 5 with Drumspirit.
The mare nosed out Sadler's Lass in a desperately close finish.
