Vanbrugh claimed the final Group 1 of the Sydney spring carnival in the Moet & Chandon Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) at Randwick on Saturday.
The Chris Waller-trained runner settled fourth before being shuffled back at the 1000m after being checked, third last approaching the turn.
Glyn Schofield pulled Vanbrugh to the outside on the turn into the clear and running on strongly in the straight proved too good for his rivals with I’m Belucci 1.3L back in second with Man Of Choice third.
Vanbrugh returned a Timeform figure of 109+, five pounds below his win in the Group 3 Gloaming Stakes two runs back.
The Racing and Sports Field Strength Value (RSFS) indicate it was well below par for a three-year-old Group 1 race and well below the 2014 renewal taken out by Hampton Court who returned a figure of 120.
Vanbrugh is the lowest rated winner of the Spring Champion Stakes in the last 24 years with not a great deal behind him highlighted by second placegetter I’m Belucci.
The Desleigh Forster-trained runner had a peak rating of 88 coming into the race and ran up to 106? on Saturday although whether or not he can run up to that mark consistently going forward is another question.
Whilst Vanbrugh did not quite reach the heights of previous Spring Champion winners he looks a horse with still plenty of improvement to come and can certainly improve again.
Earlier in the Program Music Magnate continued his good recent form with a win in the Cellarbrations October Open Handicap (1400m) to claim his second victory in as many starts.
The Bjorn Baker-trained runner settled off the leaders in third before taking over proceedings at the 200m to claim the win by 1.3L over the fast finishing San Diego in second with Cosmic Cube in third.
Music Magnate returned a career peak figure of 107, five pounds above his Rosehill win two starts back.
The RSFS value indicates it was a fairly strong affair and probably more on par with a listed race than an open handicap.
The time of 1:22.02 was inside standard for the Randwick 1400m but well outside race par.
Music Magnate is certainly a horse on the rise, having won four of nine, missing the placings just once in his career when fifth in the listed Fireball Stakes.
With still some improvement to come, Music Magnate could now go on and be competitive in some Group races throughout the spring carnival in Melbourne.
The resuming San Diego showed he could be in for a good campaign as well, returning a figure of 104 which puts him on par with what he was running last campaign.
If the John O’Shea-trained runner can get back to his peak of 113, achieved when runner up to Polanski in the 2013 Victoria Derby he could measure up in some decent races during the spring.
San Diego will take good improvement form that run and is likely to improve as he goes up in distance.
Herne’s Oak has been very consistent this campaign and returned to the winners circle with a narrow win over Scherzoso in the Myer Spring Fashion Benchmark 83 Handicap (2000m).
The Bjorn Baker-trained runner returned a career peak figure of 99, five pounds above his third at Rosehill the start prior.
Likely to find himself in some stakes races going forward, Herne’s Oak will probably need to improve again to be competitive with the RSFS indicating it was about on par for a benchmark 83 race.
Having won between 1300m-2000m, the High Chaparral four-year-old gelding looks a fairly versatile type going forward.
Second placegetter Scherzoso also ran to a new peak of 91 but not sure wether he can continue to improve off that mark and may have found his level.
Cana followed up a good debut win with another victory in the Bowermans Furniture Benchmark 70 Handicap (1400m).
Having led throughout before being challenged on the turn,the three-year-old filly got home the better to score a narrow win over Denpurr with the resuming Cylinder Beach third.
Cana returned a figure of 90p, five pounds above her debut win and is likely to continue to improve off that effort.
The RSFS was well above par for a Benchmark 70 race and probably more on par with a Benchmark 85.
The Racing and Sports sectional analysis indicate it was run inside race par and there could be a couple to follow out of the race.
Second placegetter Denpurr ran to a new peak of 101 and was probably the run of the race with the 60kg whilst Cylinder Beach did not quite run up to his peak of 108 but returned well and ran to a figure of 99.
