Asked what El Soldado's $500,000 upset win in Saturday's Barfoot & Thompson Auckland Cup meant to him, owner and trainer Phillip Devcich said: "No more bills".
"This was a dream come true," he told the Herald yesterday. And that's not taking it over the top.
Devcich was a pretty good polo player who wasn't quite good enough to make the representative team, but took himself to Australia, England and the US to play at the top level. Twenty years of milking cows when he returned taught him hard work.
As magnificent as EL Soldado's win was at $125 for $1 wagered, Saturday racing's battler wasn't gloating.
"You know, I have the greatest respect for the leading trainers like Murray Baker and Tony Pike, to be a top trainer you have to go out and get the good horse and that's not easy. I admire those guys so much.