Peaceful was anything but at the Wanganui Spring Races as the Cambridge horse found the hole and powered from the back to claim the O'Leary Stakes for three-year-olds over 1200m on Saturday.
Ridden expertly by Matthew Cameron, Peaceful claimed the first $50,000 Black Type race of the afternoon in impressive fashion, winning for trainers Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman, along with the ownership group of G P Clarke, P W O'Rourke and JML Bloodstock Ltd.
In the 12 horse field, second favourite Peaceful got a good start out of the gate but then found What A Smasher (Samantha Collett) wanted to lead the group and did so as they spread out along the rail on the back stretch.
Flaunt It Girl (Shaun McKay) looked to move up on the outside of the leader as they rounded the turn, but What A Smasher had the rail and now the question was did it have the legs.
London Express (Johnathan Parkes) was looking to move as the field spread out for the straight and seemed to be letting go at the right time.