The Cox Plate dream turned sour for Puccini's connections, but the Group One winner provided some compensation when he claimed the main event on the Trentham card.
The New Zealand Derby hero returned to winning form in the Gr.3 TBS Thompson Handicap to end a frustrating time for his connections.
"Right day, wrong course," said co-trainer Jacob McKay, who prepares the 4-year-old at Matamata with his father Peter. "Things didn't pan out for us to get to Melbourne."
Puccini was on the right track when he won the Merial Mile at Awapuni, but Moonee Valley aspirations were derailed after he raced too fiercely when unplaced in the Gr.1 Spring Classic at Hastings.
Puccini trialled at Te Awamutu, after which the decision was made to pursue domestic targets rather chase Australian riches.
Ridden by Jonathan Riddell, who was deputising for an injured Vinnie Colgan, Puccini settled third last and finished doggedly over the closing 200m to earn a short head victory.
Puccini narrowly denied Mark Fraser-Campin and his brother Chris Campin a perfect day when get he got the better of Kisses, whose stablemate Aeternum won earlier.
"I thought I might have left it a bit late, but the further he went the better he got," Riddell said.
