The race was an exercise in redemption for rider Mark Du Plessis. The former Zimbabwean copped his share of criticism when he tried, perhaps too hard, to orchestrate tactics on Bounding in the 1000 Guineas and found himself left three wide the trip without cover.
On that occasion, Bounding fought remarkably well to finish a close second to Costa Viva.
Unperturbed, Du Plessis knew he had to orchestrate again.
He told Ken and Bev Kelso that unless they could advise against it he was going to ride Bounding in front three widths off the inside rail, the footing near which Du Plessis believed would be too soft for the filly.
It looked risky mid-race when horses were racing inside Bounding, but Du Plessis stuck to his tactics and it appeared to make the difference.
"The footing out where we were was a genuine dead, where it was definitely slow against the rail.
"I think what we did was crucial."
The Kelsos and owner Gary Harding have been desperate to win a group one with Bounding, who thoroughly deserved that high accolade.
"We can relax now," said Kelso, when asked what plans he has for the expensive Australian-bred filly.
The options are enormous, they could include sticking with 1200m and taking on the Telegraph at Trentham or going down the route of the 3-year-old races.
Unquestionably the No 1 barrier draw and the 52kg helped this time.
Waterford was a long neck back with Little Wonder a gallant third ahead of Durham Town, who loomed on the home bend and finished two length from the winner.
If horse racing is the cruellest game in town it can also deliver golden fortune when it's needed.
Trainer Dean Logan was recently diagnosed with throat cancer.
More recently, he has been handed a glowing prognosis after radiation and yesterday he and training partner Donna Logan won the $100,000 Scot Thrust City Of Auckland Cup with Mosquito.
That came exactly two hours after the pair won the $100,000 Royal Stakes with Rising Romance.
Both horses are destined for headlining careers. James McDonald couldn't praise Mosquito enough after a nose defeat of Chaparrone.
"He's on the way to becoming a very good stayer.
"That reminded me of a Shez Sensational Auckland Cup."
Donna Logan asked McDonald as he dismounted if the horse was good enough to progress through to the Auckland Cup in March.
"Go for it," said McDonald with no hesitation. "That was a funny sort of race, a few horses darted up on my inside and it was a confusing race. I thought he'd have been unlucky not to have won."
You have to feel for connections of Chaparrone, who last season placed in the City Of Auckland Cup, Avondale Cup and Auckland Cup.
It must have been difficult yesterday to watch her go under by the barest of margins. Storming The Tower took a handy third from More Than Sacred, Annie Higgins and Boninsky.
Riccarton trainer Michael Pitman had a day to remember at Waikouaiti yesterday, winning five races.
Four of his winners were ridden by David Walsh who has brought his career tally to 2342 wins - just 16 behind the all-time New Zealand record of 2358 held by Lance O'Sullivan.
Pitman was also pleased to see his daughter-in-law Brittany salute on Ask Me in the final event of the day, a rating 65 over 1250m.
Brittany Pitman took on much of the day-to-day running of the stables after the death of her brother-in-law Jonny Pitman in November.
- Additional reporting, Otago Daily Times
