A RACING prospect can turn up in some unlikely places. Good Hunting's victory at Eagle Farm yesterday was another example of the price tag not always reflecting the prospect of success.

The Stratum mare originally was a $60,000 buy as a yearling but injury saw her written off as a racing proposition after two starts for the Anthony Cummings stable in Sydney.

New owner David Watkins saw Good Hunting running in a paddock at Bathurst after two years away from racing and, after checking her breeding, made an offer of $1000.

"She had shown some promise in her two runs in Sydney but had a serious injury to her near fetlock and the advice was that she would never race again," Watkins said.

"But after two years out of work the fetlock problems largely had settled down. I bought her mainly as a breeding proposition but she started to look so good we put her back into work."

Good Hunting ($3.40) was having her sixth start under trainer Barry Baldwin and always looked the winner in the Sky Racing Maiden (1500m).

The mare was cleverly handled by Larry Cassidy, who admitted he was alarmed by the persistent threat posed by Tale Of Harmony ($6) down the straight.

"I went from thinking she was going to win easily to three times thinking she was going to get beaten," Cassidy said. "In the end it was a gutsy win and I think later on she might be better in a longer race."

The total of $16,800 in prizemoney already makes her a cheap buy for Watkins.

Another bargain buy to win was Riddle Me This ($10) who scored on debut in the Ormiston College Handicap (1000m).

Trainer Tony Gollan said the Hussonet gelding had cost only $7000, with most prospective buyers deterred by his lack of size.

"The smaller Hussonet stock seem to be the best. He's been given plenty of time before getting to the races to let him grow a bit," Gollan said.

Riddle Me This did a few things wrong in the running but showed plenty of heart under pressure at the finish to draw clear of challengers inside the final 100m.

Gollan completed a winning double with Falvalina, a six-year-old Falvelon mare, who probably returned her career-best performance at her first run since March.

"I thought going into this race was the best condition she's ever been in and she ran right up to her looks," Gollan said.