The 8-year-old gelding Like A Carousel came in to Saturday's $250,000 Listed Pakenham Cup (2500m) with just one win, a hurdle at Sale, to his credit since he took out the Listed Harry White Classic at Sandown back in September 2014.
Punters did not think much of his chance, with just one of the 12 starters going off longer than Like A Carousel's quote of $41.
With Linda Meech in the saddle, the Ken Keys-trained gelding defied the odds to earn the biggest payday of his 52-start career.
Like A Carousel defeated another longshot Khartoum by a half-head with the $4.20 favourite Oncidium Ruler finished third
It was just his fourth trip to the winner's circle but he has been a wonderful money spinner for connections earning $678,570 and he has a Group 1 placing in the 2015 Sydney Cup won by Grand Marshal.
That's a colossal return on the $10,000 his trainer needed to secure the son of Helike (USA) from the Armidale Stud draft at the 2011 Tasmanian Magic Millions Yearling Sale.
Being prepared for another jumping preparation, Like A Carousel made his seasonal seven days earlier with a fifth in a Benchmark 90 race at Sandown.
"It was a huge punt to do what we did today but sometimes you have got to be a bit unconventional," Keys said.
"I thought it was a bit of a punt to turn him around so quick, we thought that was a trial (at Sandown).
"I thought I might be a place chance. He has unbelievable stamina and he proved it today.
"This horse has probably had 20-odd starts with no luck so it was great to see it all come together today."
Like A Carousel is the best of four named foals out of the Spinning World (USA) mare Carnival Ride who was pensioned in 2016 after not having a live foal in the previous five years.
A winner and placed in Melbourne, Carnival Ride is out of the stakes-placed Cup Of Cheer (Raise A Cup) a half-sister to Group II VRC Wakeful Stakes and Group II VRC Bloodhorse Breeders' Stakes winner Love Comes To Town (Exit Five B).
The sire of Like A Carousel, Helike (USA) (pictured), died in 2013.
A two-time winner in France and stakes-placed, Helike (Rahy) was a half-brother to the Group III winner Moon Driver (Mr Prospector) out of the Prix de Diane, Prix Jacques Le Marois and Poule d'Essai des Pouliches winner East Of The Moon (Private Account), a half-sister to five stakes-winners including the influential Kingmambo, and a daughter of the champion mare Miesque.
Never standing for more than $3,300 in his six seasons at Armidale Stud, Helike (USA) left just 98 live foals, four of which became stakes-winners.
