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A horse that could have been bought for only $3000 at Karaka has emerged as one of the South Island’s brightest sprinting talents.

Buoyant (NZ) (Dalghar), who was offered by Brighthill Farm at the 2019 Karaka May Sale, turned Monday's $120,000 Group Three Lindauer Stewards' Stakes at Riccarton into a one-horse race. He has now had 15 starts for five wins, four placings and $153,165 in stakes.

The four-year-old gelding hails from the Ascot Park base of his owner-trainer Sabin Kirkland, and he came into this year's Riccarton carnival in strong form with two wins and two placings in his previous four appearances.

Buoyant first lodged his claims for black-type sprinting honours with an eye-catching late run into third in the Listed Pegasus Stakes (1000m) on the opening day of the carnival, and on Monday he upped his game impressively.

Ridden by Michael McNab, Buoyant settled well back in the field after being slow to leave the starting gates. Brought to the outside and unleashed in the straight, he burst to the lead and careered away to score by three and a half lengths.

"He's quite an excitable horse," McNab said. "He was standing well, but then he suddenly reared up three or four times. There was a bit of commotion and they held them in the gates a bit longer, and he reared up again when they opened.

"I was able to find my way to the outside, and then it took him a little while to change legs, but once he changed legs it was game over.

"I had to get down to the weight (53.5 kilograms), but it was worth it."

Monday's win was both a relief and an enormous thrill for Kirkland, who is now looking ahead to a possible tilt at the Group One Telegraph (1200m) at Trentham in January.

"We won the Coupland's Mile (Group Two, 1600m) at this carnival 15 years ago, and now to come back to win the Stewards' Stakes is wonderful," Kirkland said.

"It's been a big week. I was wondering if he had done enough all week, and then he had Saturday off (when the race meeting was postponed), but it all panned out. You've got Michael McNab on board, so you can't panic.

"We might even look at Wellington later on. The Telegraph is definitely an option."

Buoyant's reserve was only $3000 at the 2019 Karaka May Sale, and he has now earned more than 50 times that amount.