The Kevin Myers-trained Yardarm, ridden by replacement jockey James Seivwright, won the feature jumping event, the Hawke's Bay Steeplechase (4800m), at Hastings yesterday.
Seivwright picked up the ride after Sam O'Malley had to forego the mount due to suffering a heavy concussion and fractured vertebrae when Remarx fell heavily in the first hurdle race on the card.
Seivwright kept Yardarm in contact with the pacemakers Notabadrooster and It's A Wonder throughout before asserting control around the home bend.
Yardarm flew the last fence and raced away to register just his second career victory and first over the bigger fences after taking out a maiden hurdle event at Te Aroha back in July 2015.
The rising 12-year-old, who carries the colours of former champion galloper Mainbrace, was good enough to finish second in the 2017 Australian Grand National Steeplechase (4500m) but has been plagued by injury throughout his career and returned to racing only in May after finishing sixth in the 2019 KS Browne Hurdle (3350m) at Ellerslie.