Superturf, not unusually, dropped out last early, but what was unusual was that he at no stage made his typical run at those in front.
When questioned by stewards, rider Charlie Studd said he felt recent racing had probably taken its toll on the favourite.
You need some luck in this racing game - Cambridge trainer Darrell Lang had played a patient waiting game with Moochi Me after she bled finishing second at Avondale in November.
She resumed after an eight-month break at Ruakaka on Saturday, took her record to four wins from just seven starts and bled again.
This time it is a lifetime New Zealand ban although there is a possible further career opportunity to race in a number of American states that allow the use of the anti-bleeding drug Lasix.
Lang told stewards Moochi Me would be retired.
In the same race Willing Spirit was also found to have bled and was issued with a mandatory three-month ban.
The racecaller summed it up beautifully. " ... a champion is hard to beat", as local champ Bashboy approached the post to register his fourth consecutive A$115,000 Crisp Steeplechase win at Warrnambool yesterday.
Bashboy is rising 12 and this was his 17th victory and it took his earnings to beyond A$1 million.
He was beautifully ridden, as you would expect, by Steve Pateman who had him trailing the leader under his 71kg from the first fence.
Matthew Gillies rode an odd race on New Zealand's Sea King. The combination covered extra ground over the first lap and a half and Sea King was in fifth place and six lengths from the lead at the second-to-last fence.
Sea King, under 70kg, was still five lengths off Bashboy over the last and closed the gap quickly in the final strides to be only one length back at the finish.
Fellow New Zealander Carinya jumped indifferently at the back of the small field and was never a threat.
