The horse who ruined the Melody Belle party at Te Rapa on Saturday wasn't even supposed to be in the race.
Former Hong Kong galloper Royal Performer stunned punters by bolting away with the $400,000 Herbie Dyke Stakes, New Zealand's richest weight-for-age race, after a beautiful ride from Jonathan Riddell.
The eight-year-old never left the fence and dashed clear halfway down the straight with The Chosen One rocketing home into second ahead of On The Rocks.
But many eyes were cast further back in the field where $1.35 favourite Melody Belle finished second-last in the race where she was looking to become New Zealand's most successful Group 1 galloper.
While she received some buffering in the straight that was only after she wasn't going well enough at the 600m to take off as she usually would have. She had no luck but still raced below her best, with trainer Jamie Richards confirming she had taken no harm from the race.