Co-trainer Murray Baker was prepared to concede It's A Dundeel might have been coming to the end of his campaign before the Queen Elizabeth, just as he appeared to do when beaten in the Victoria Derby in the spring before being spelled.
He got a long way back off them in that race and made good late ground, but looked a distressed horse afterwards.
Although punters were shocked that European import Reliable Man easily beat It's A Dundeel, the winner is an extraordinarily good horse, good enough to win the French Derby.
Pity he broke down winning on Saturday.
Michael Rodd felt It's A Dundeel was brave in finishing second and thought coming back from the 2400m of winning the Derby to Saturday's 2000m was too tough when combined with the other factors.
It's A Dundeel remains an outstanding prospect for New Zealand in the Melbourne spring.
One or two others are as well, and the Baker/Andrew Forsman stable prepare two of them.
Go back to the Manawatu Classic at Awapuni a few weeks ago.
Survived bombed the leaders late to beat Usainity and Platinum Kingdom.
Survived came out last weekend and literally blew them off the track in the Hawkes Bay Cup.
Platinum Kingdom made the Sydney second-tier 3-year-olds look ordinary and Usainity upset them in Saturday's A$125,000 Frank Packer Plate in Sydney. Both Survived and Usainity are by little known sire Zed, a son of Zabeel.
That's what you call a form race.
Usainity is now going on to the Queensland Derby and doubtless something reasonably ambitious will be found for Ambitious Champion after his remarkable victory at Te Rapa on Saturday.
Ambitious Champion was run practically off the track on the home bend and was no chance to win at the 200m even though finishing fast down the outside.
That he managed to get there in the final stride confirmed his enormous potential.
"At the 200m, I thought if he finished third it would be a top run - I can't believe he won," said winning rider Opie Bosson.
The Baker/Forsman combination have plenty to occupy themselves with watching that pair.
Who had the big plonk on eventual winner Cosmic Cube minutes before the jump in the juvenile at Te Rapa on Saturday?
With three minutes of betting left, Cosmic Cube at $4.60 was second favourite behind debut runner Wolfwhistle on $4.30.
Almost as the field jumped away Cosmic Cube came into $3, pushing Wolfwhistle out to $5.10.
It takes plenty of money to change two favourites around to that degree.
The money was on the mark. Cosmic Cube, although seemingly not entirely happy on the rain-affected footing, came from an impossible position in running to win easily.
He could be anything.
The highly regarded Wolfwhistle (O'Reilly-Legs) didn't help himself. He raced fiercely for Matt Cameron, getting out three wide in mid-field, finishing not far from the placegetters. He gave the impression he would learn plenty from the experience.
Racing's a tough game. Break a leg on a Friday in Hawkes Bay and head to Te Rapa for racing on Saturday - it's not even to be thought about.
Bridget Lowry snapped a leg on Friday jumping a gate in Hawkes Bay she probably should have opened on her feet, got it put in a cast and headed to Te Rapa.
She wasn't going to miss Pimms Time running there on Saturday.
Which was just as well.
Pimms Time got the better of a strong field, holding on to a narrow margin from the fast-finishing O'Fille and Noel Harris.
"This is a good mare," said co-trainer Guy Lowry. "She's got a big future and is coming to it steadily."
In a tough finish, Pimms Time displayed real grit.
Bridget Lowry might have to struggle with the birdcage presentations, but she got around reasonably on the crutches.
It was the first time Pimms Time had tackled 200m and she managed it well. The improving mare has a real future.
