In a thrilling finish to the rescheduled $250,000 Group One Livamol Classic local galloper Wait A Sec upset the applecart with a stunning victory on his home patch.
The seven-year-old has proved a revelation of late with an extended campaign netting six wins from his last eight races including the Egmont Cup just eight days earlier.
Despite the impeccable form-line he was not freely considered to be a leading contender to claim the jewel of the Hawke's Bay Spring Carnival.
Prepared in partnership by Grant Cullen and Guy Lowry, the Postponed gelding started at odds of better than $26 as all eyes focused on hot favourite Gingernuts. The Iffraaj four-year-old had been expected to win the original contest before it was called off a fortnight earlier when the meeting was abandoned due to adverse track conditions.
Supported on-course by an army of owners and fans in their distinctive orange caps, Gingernuts was given a comfortable trip beyond midfield throughout the race by rider Opie Bosson and loomed into contention on the point of the home turn. At this stage rider Johnathan Parkes had elected to go for a rails-hugging run on Wait A Sec who had made good ground from well back to be in behind a wall of horses as the field straightened for the run home.