The Max Hawkins Memorial Marc Hawkins Electrical and Tim Evans Maiden Plate (900m) was all about Labrusco in the lead-up and the Brett Cavanough-trained gelding jumped a raging $1.40 favourite.

But it was the $51 outsider Thermosa from the Nyngan stables of Rodney Robb who saluted.

Robb said it’s been hard work getting the now four-year-old on the track but all the patience proved worth it as he won on debut by a convincing three-and-a-half lengths.

Labrusco was a disappointing fourth.

“He’s four years old and hasn’t been here (at the track). It took us a long time to get going,” the larrikin Robb told Sky Thoroughbred Central.

“My foreman and my son, Brett, persevered with him and everything came good.

“It was about maturity. He was dumb. Like me at school.”

The win was the latest in a purple patch for apprentice jockey Wendy Peel, and it was all set up early as she got away well with Thermosa and immediately took control.

That was where Robb’s hope stayed, getting home comfortably ahead of Clint Lundholm’s promising Beechal (Mathew Cahill, $18) and La Petite Belle (Jake Pracey-Holmes, $7) from the David Smith stables at Mudgee.

That race was followed by another surprise win, albeit a much smaller one.

It was somewhat of a shock to see $8 chance Chrissy’s Dream take out the Imperial Hotel Maiden Handicap (1200m), especially as pre-race favourite Regal Cannon (Pracey-Holmes, $1.85) began to loom in the home straight.

But Cameron Crockett’s hope couldn’t get there as Josh Adams piloted the Mitch Newman-trained gelding to a half-length win.