Going into Wednesday night's opening Alabar NSW Breeders Challenge 2YO Colts and Geldings Heat (1,730 metres) the race shaped up as a battle between Kalypso King and Smooth Baht.
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It turned out neither of them would emerge as the winner.
Instead, that honour went to the Bernie Hewitt-trained and Doug Hewitt-driven Rock Fisherman ($21), who stunned Kalypso King ($1.90 favourite) and Send It ($7) with his powerful dash down the middle of the track.
The surprising tiring of Smooth Baht ($2.60) on the turn for home gave Rock Fisherman the chance to make a sprint in clean air.
The Pet Rock gelding had not tasted victory prior to Wednesday night but winning driver Hewitt had always felt victory was just around the corner for him.
"He's one of those horses who can do that on his day," he said.
"He showed that last week at Young where he galloped but still didn't finish too far off them to come third.
"He's a big two-year-old and we're working a few things out with him but tonight he put it all on the track like he'd been doing it forever."
Leader Kalypso King put the foot down on the third quarter to pull clear of the field.
Rock Fisherman had trailed the leader throughout the race and had the chance to peel wide when Steve Turnbull's highly fancied death seat runner, Smooth Baht, couldn't keep up.
"Steve's horse went a bit wrong on the back and he had to grab hold a bit. That was when Glen [McElhinney] went for it on Kalypso," Hewitt said.
"At that point I still felt like I had a bit of horse left and it just worked out perfectly for him. He didn't have to do much work and he got the clear run to home."
Meanwhile the second of the night's colts and geldings heats played out as expected. Rockin With Elvis ($2 favourite) beat Saint Emilion ($2.10) in a two-horse finish despite both horses spending energy early to fight for the early lead.
Dancelikeanangel ($9.50) and Joes Joy ($1.90 favourite) were winners of the two fillies heats.
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