A puzzling decision that forced expatriate Kiwi jockey Michael Walker to dress down for the occasion at Flemington on Saturday didn't take the gloss off a New Zealand victory.
The Chris Waller-trained Alward impressively opened his Australian account for New Zealand syndication company Go Racing, but with Walker sporting the club's silks.
"The stewards deemed that our colours were too close to those of Lloyd Williams, which was a bit odd, but hopefully Chris will be able to sort all that out now," syndicate manager Albert Bosma said.
Alward's success signalled a change of fortune for the four-year-old, who is expected to make his mark in stakes company in the future.
"There's a lot of upside to him, he's a pretty smart horse," Bosma said. "Not many horses that can stay can sprint like that at the end of 2000 metres. It was also a very good ride by Michael.