The connections of Kaharau received a degree of compensation on Saturday after missing out on a far bigger cheque earlier this year.

“We had him sold to South Australia as a jumper, but he failed the vet,” said part-owner Kenny Rae, who trains the five-year-old with his wife Lisa and their daughter Krystal Williams.

“I did have bigger hopes for him at one stage, but he’s had a few issues and he’s still a pretty handy horse.”

Kaharau proved that on his home track at Ruakaka when he was successful in the Lawson Cartage Bream Bay Cup, the seventh win of his career.

The son of Ad Valorem had hinted at an early return to his best form when he had finished a handy fifth when resuming at Ellerslie last month.

“I’d been very happy with him up until last week when he got a stone bruise and missed a gallop,” Rae said.

“I was pretty sure the foot had come right, but you never really know until they get out there.”

Kaharau was settled in the trail by rider Sam Collett and after they shouldered into the clear 2500 metres from home they sprinted clear to down Nailed It and Biologist.

“We’ll probably star around here for the Whakatane Cup toward the end of July and there’s the Taumarunui Gold Cup as well,” Rae said. “One day he might even end up a jumper here.”