"After I rode six or seven winners as an apprentice to Wally Gulliver, I got sick of it and went dairy farming," said a delighted Perrett after Rosetown Joe simply outstayed the opposition in the big race.
It wasn't until 2006 that iconic trainer John Wheeler dragged Perrett back into horse racing with a newspaper advertisement for a trackwork rider. Perrett applied and Wheeler being Wheeler encouraged the then 23-year-old to try his hand at raceday riding.
Rosetown Joe has a unique way of galloping with his head almost dragging on the ground.
You often wonder how he can approach large fences like a couple at Ellerslie.
"I know it looks odd, but it's not as bad when you ride him as it might appear," said Perrett.
"He actually sees his fences well."
Rosetown Joe made all the running, as he enjoys doing, but looked vulnerable when the challenges came after landing over the last fence.
Star performer Tom's Myth challenged hard, but a combination of Tom's Myth's weight (70.5kg) and the stamina from sire Istadaad and dam sire Sir Tristram kicked in and the winner was going away again on the line.
He carries the name Rosetown after Te Awamutu, but he is trained in the district of Pokuru by the Lund family, an area that became well known as the farm base of the late, great John Grylls.
The Lunds were friends with the Grylls family.
Perrett is predicting even greater days for Rosetown Joe.
"He's so tough and stubborn - he hates anything getting the better of him." Yes, there is more than a little Sir Tristram there.
Of course it wouldn't be Ken Browne/MacGregor Grant Day if Ann Browne didn't have a say.
The Cambridge horsewoman had a major say when she won the opening jumping race with $51 chance Ima Dancer. If the result stunned punters, Ann Browne was on their team.
"I'm not surprised he went a good race, but I am surprised and delighted he won."
Ima Dancer had not finished in a place in eight previous jumping starts.
Kayla Veenendaal got him home in a tight finish.
"Kayla rode this horse all day during a jumping day at our place last year so she knows the horse well," said Ann Browne. "We told Kayla she should go to Kevin's [Myers] last year and she's done well."
Dargaville's Dick Stephenson got a deserved win with The Strutter in the Hire Pool KS Browne Hurdles.
One of jumping's great enthusiasts, Stephenson has had a truly fabulous record with horses you could normally pass of as being unpopularly bred.
He could win every race on a programme and little would change in his personality.
Winning a race in honour of one of his heroes meant something.
"I can remember coming here [Ellerslie] and running second so many times to Kenny Browne."
