Leith Innes and Kawi did it again when they claimed their consecutive Makfi Challenge Stakes crown in Hastings today.
The pair performed to the script at the slow 7 Hastings track to finish in 1m 24.87s during the first leg of the NZ Bostock Spring Racing Carnival trilogy staged inHawke's Bay.
The Allan Sharrock-trained 6-year-old Bay gelding crossed the line in a stiff westerly wind, 1.3 lengths ahead of the Stuart Manning-trained El Pescado and Cameron Lammas while Farm Boy (Hayden Tinsley) was the other upstart, 1.5 lengths behind, to question the pundits' predictions as the remaining favourites faded away.
Longchamp (2.3L), Authentic Paddy (2.5L), Battle Time (2.8L) followed in that order in the $200,000 race run over 1400m.
Innes and Sharrock had an animated discussion at the Bird Cage during the presentation before Rio rowing gold medallist Hamish Bond presented the New Plymouth trainer his crystal trophy, as the group of co-owners watched.
Innes, who also rode Kawi to victory last year in the Makfi, bagged his third crown after winning his first one on Starcraft in 2004.
Hasselhoof and Stolen Dance had to settle for 10th and 11th places, respectively, while the other favourite, Valley Girl, came in last in the field of 16.
Bond and fellow Olympian Anita McLaren (nee Punt), a Black Stick, were there to promote Daffodil Raceday to raise Sunsmart awareness as well as help raise money for the Hawke's Bay Cancer Society.
