Almost 30 millimetres fell at Coonamble throughout the day on Friday and on Sunday there was even more good news for a syndicate of landholders at the Dubbo Turf Club.
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Connections of Gorn Hoff were understandably concerned as the three-year-old gelding was pulled from the barriers in the moments before the Dubbo RSL Event Centre Maiden Plate (1300 metres).
But the on-track veterinarian declared him fit and he proved it, Daniel Pitomac defying the $21 odds to win in a thrilling photo finish a bare 0.05 lengths ahead of $2.20 favourite The Exchequer (Samantha Clenton).
Many of the nine families connected were represented track side on Sunday, and the cheers went up as the Bon Hoffa x Stralara progeny's win was confirmed.
"Peter O'Connor, one of the owners, he bought him out of a Dubbo sale as just a yearling so we broke him in, sent him home for 12 months - he had an injury - and he's back racing now and as I say each run he just seems to be getting better and better," trainer Clint Lundholm said.
"They've dealt with drought at Coonamble for a long time and I know they're getting a little bit of rain now and it's just good to get them away and get them a winner.
"[The families] have all got something to do with the country and the land out there and messing around with their cattle and their farms and it's just a good distraction for them.
"Coming to the races and having a beer with mates and they're not thinking about the dramas at home ... no rain and no feed ... they'll talk about this for weeks. They'll enjoy this."
Gorn Hoff jumped straight to the lead from barrier one and raced four-abreast with The Exchequer, Morotai (Ashley Morgan, $4.40) and Cool Sea (Anthony Cavallo, $16) for the majority of the race.
But he never surrendered his position on the inside, pipping The Exchequer at the post while Morotai and Cool Sea couldn't be separated 0.65 lengths back in a dead heat for third.
The win brought Gorn Hoff's race winnings to $13,255 from just three starts.
He returned from a 48-week spell in March but made Lundholm "look like a little bit of joke" with his first race start at Warren.
But he was unlucky to finish second by the narrowest of margins, 0.01 lengths behind Jack Junior at Lightning Ridge last month, and on Sunday his improvement continued.
"Each run he just seems to keep getting better and better," Lundholm said.
"This horse has got plenty of upside and I think as he gets closer to a mile, you'll see a better horse again."
