Tough summer love paid huge winter dividends for Habibi Inta in the sensation race of the Harness Jewels on Saturday.
While there were better winning performances on the nine group one raceday, the four-year-old trot was controversial even before it started, with hot favourite Enghien galloping from barrier three in the score-up and driver Ricky May choosing to start from the unruly for the second attempt.
Enghien galloped again, losing his winning chance and burning punters, but trainer Greg Hope backed May's call 100 per cent.
"If I had a phone and was able to call Ricky after that first gallop I would have told him to do exactly what he did, start from the unruly," said Hope. "It was a real shame because he went enormous after galloping. I am starting to think maybe he just doesn't like Cambridge." While the incident would have left Enghien punters feeling sour at least the three minute hold up gave some a chance to cover their bets on Habibi Inta, who unlike his arch rival never put a hoof wrong and won easily from in front.
And his trainer Paul Nairn says this new, more mature Habibi Inta may have been forged on the rugged hills of Waikari in North Canterbury.