Those trackside were left stunned by Tiggerlong Jewel's performance.

However it wasn't in a good way for connections or punters.

In an unlucky debut for Helen Finn, the bitch struck trouble approaching the turn for home and ended up jumping over the outside fence.

Tiggerlong Jewel ($12) looked to be running into the Happy Birthday Adam Oliver Maiden (320m) after an average start before a chain reaction pushed her towards the outside.

In a move of self-preservation she exited stage left but kept running along the fence and appeared uninjured by the incident.

Veterans of the sport admitted they had never seen anything like it.

Saltarello ($3.40 fav) went on to win the race by 1.5 lengths.

Meanwhile Kelan Bale appreciated the return to the 400-metre boxes to get to his consistent best.

Kelan Bale hadn't finished outside the top four in his first nine starts for Holbrook trainer Dirk Bosman before two disappointing efforts in his last two starts.

However he launched out of the boxes on his way to a narrow victory in the Wagga Tile Centre (400m).

Bosman thought different starting point made a big difference.

"He doesn't like the 300 all that much but needed a couple of runs over it to get him up to the 400," Bosman said.

"I think he will go better as he gets longer.

"He just doesn't jump 300 but for some reason he gets out of every other box he goes to.

"The 300 he hasn't been pinging it but sometimes they get board so you've got to mix it up a bit for him."

After being beaten by over six lengths by Nippy Uno last week, this time around Kelan Bale just managed to keep the Clint Colaiacovo-trained dog at bay.

A head was all that separated the pair and Bosman was far from confident before his number came up.

"I thought he actually got beat," he said.

Meanwhile Jack Roy was the only trainer to strike twice across the 11-race card.

The Wallendbeen trainer scored a late race-to-race double with Jack's Chance and Willy's Chance.

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