A massive and successful last-minute plunge on the David Hayes-trained Superior Dollar raised the excitement levels at last night's routine midweek meeting at Happy Valley.
The odds on the three-year-old, who finished 13th in his only previous racecourse appearance earlier this season, opened at 14-1, came in slightly and then, in the last two minutes of betting, crashed into 7-1.
But those who engineered the coup - plus anxious trainer Hayes - had a major sweat before Superior Dollar's number was semaphored in the Class Four third event.
Champion jockey Basil Marcus, on the inside, and claimer Carol W.S. Yu on 12-1 chance For Szesze crossed the line at the end of the longer sprint absolutely locked together. But the camera showed that the South African had prevailed by, almost literally, a nostril.
Hayes, who has been having something of a lean spell for a stable so reliably successful, had every reason to smile. He said: 'He had unquestionably improved and I was sure he would run well. But I have felt that about a couple of mine recently and it has not worked out quite as I hoped it would.' While Hayes' winner might have been harder to find for the rank-and-file, there were some genuine admirers for For Szesze, whose only previous effort had been an eye-catching fourth on the dirt over 1,150 metres.
The disappointment of the race was 7-2 favourite Bank On It, who is rapidly becoming an extremely expensive proposition.
Again the Valley track bias, which so favours front runners and those capable of lying up on the pace, played a major part in all races.