The last race on the card at Cessnock on Tuesday saw a new style of runner when a kangaroo took off on the back straight before sidestepping between the field.

The extraordinary scenes occurred midway through the 2125-metre race as the leaders took the field into the back straight.

The startled kangaroo takes off but is quickly gathered up by the two frontrunners and decides to take evasive action.

The race was finally won by Cunning As A Tiger – with the possibly more appropriate How Do You Do not running a place.