Robbie Patterson has some unfinished business after Coventina Bay gave him the biggest thrill of his training career at Te Rapa.
The brilliant mare overcame a bad barrier draw to win New Zealand's richest weight-for-age race, the $400,000 Herbie Dyke Stakes, when she surged past Vernanme after a lovely Craig Grylls ride.
Drifting favourite The Chosen One was third after being trapped three wide for the entire 2000m event, his spot in the race only guaranteed after a veterinary examination was performed when he banged his knee on the way to the track.
Even allowing for The Chosen One's luckless day at the office, few could begrudge Coventina Bay her first Group 1 after a wonderful body of work over the past year in which she has won a Group 2 and a Group 3 but also been placed twice at Group 1 level behind genuine stars in Avantage and The Chosen One.
With the Group 1 filed away in her future broodmare resume and 2000m now clearly in her comfort zone, Coventina Bay would seem a natural fit for the Bonecrusher NZ Stakes at Ellerslie on March 13, but Patterson says that is no sure thing.