The biggest prizes eluded the Kiwis on the first day of The Championships in Sydney but there were still plenty of reasons for New Zealand racing fans to smile.
The New Zealand-trained horses were unplaced in the A$3 million Doncaster won by Cascadian and the A$2m ATC Derby won by Explosive Jack, but Cambridge trainers Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman won the A$300,000 Chairman's Handicap with Quick Thinker.
The 4-year-old recorded his first win since the ATC on a similarly wet track and is now a $15 chance for next Saturday's Sydney Cup.
As good as he was, fellow New Zealand gallopers Sir Charles Road and Concert Hall both disappointed in the Chairman's and would need to improve enormously to have any chance in the Cup.
New Zealand's assault on The Championships will receive some huge boosts next week with Probabeel, Amarelinha and Entriviere joining the Kiwi contingent, and they will be welcome additions, especially if the Randwick track dries this week as expected.