A race designed to give Victorian horses experience racing in a clockwise direction almost brought about the undoing of the one who was used to it.
The NSW-trained Sheer Style got the job done at Ballarat last month in the Magic Millions Clockwise Classic but not without scaring punters who sent her out as the odds-on favourite.
Her Hawkesbury trainer Garry Frazer said with the winning post for the other left-handed races in its fixed position, Sheer Style took fright as she came around the home turn and took a little while to get going again.
She is the favourite to continue her march towards next month's $2 million Magic Millions Classic at the Gold Coast when she competes in Thursday's Wyong Magic Millions where she meets Ballarat runner-up Geromayo.
"She wasn't comfortable on the wet track at Ballarat which was about a heavy 20 and then she spotted the winning post on the sharp turn," Frazer said.
"She will be much better back on top of the ground at Wyong. She came back from Victoria well and has an extremely good constitution so I'm happy going into the race.
"Her program works out well with three weeks between each run.
"And it's not like she's having a hard time. She gets to go into a paddock each day which is something she couldn't do if she was trained in the city."
Sheer Style was installed as the TAB's $2 favourite when the market for the seven-runner Wyong race was released on Tuesday ahead of dual Randwick winner Unencumbered.
The Ballarat race was Sheer Style's first win from three starts which have included seconds behind Bold Circle and Earthquake, the favourite for the Blue Diamond Stakes.
"If there was a Golden Slipper market out now, Earthquake would be favourite," Frazer said.
"And Blake Shinn, who is riding her because Jason Collett is suspended, came out and rode Sheer Style on Saturday and was very pleased."
Sydney hotelier Bill Hilton paid $255,000 for Sheer Style who has recouped more than half of that but has also given her owner his biggest thrill in racing.
"Bill has been in horses all his life and he told me that his best result before Sheer Style was a win in a fillies and mares maiden at Gosford," Frazer said.
"He's never had a decent one until now."