A look at some of the other angles from The Run To The Rose meeting at Rosehill.
Silentsar makes noise in Midway
Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou have learned that fresh is best when it comes to honest gelding Silentsar, who has delivered them their second Midway Handicap win this season.
The Rosehill trainers have only been eligible for the restricted races since the start of August, already landing an early blow courtesy of a victory by Green Shadows last month.
Silentsar ($8.50) was having his first start in almost five weeks in Saturday's 1200m race and after taking up the running for Tim Clark, he offered plenty in the straight to run out a three-quarters of a length winner over Monte Kate ($8.50).
"When he's fresh and well, he runs through a brick wall," Gerald Ryan said.
"He's only a little horse. He's won a Magic Millions maiden and he's won a bit of stake money and all that, but it's good to see him win a Saturday race, even though it was a Midway.
"We will just keep him fresh. He's good fresh, but he probably drops five lengths after he's had one run."
Cavanough on the Bunny in HIghway
Scone horseman Brett Cavanough took over the training of Awaygoesthebunny with the aim of winning a Highway Handicap, and now that the horse has ticked that box, he believes there are bigger fish to fry.
Awaygoesthebunny ($8.50) was having just his third start for Cavanough in Saturday's 1400m race and showed a good turn of foot to come from back in the field for a half-length victory over Agirlsbestfriend($8).
He could now be set on a path towards next year's Country Championships at Randwick.
"I have done the job they wanted me to do with it - win a Highway - but I think he is a bit better than that," Cavanough said.
"We will just find another race for him, but he might be Country Championships type of horse next year.
"He is out of the Highways now, but we have a couple of wins to play with before he is out of the Country Championships."
Awaygoesthebunny was ridden by Tommy Sherry, who said Cavanough filled him with confidence heading into the race, despite the gelding's wide draw in barrier 15.
Sherry said the winner did well after hitting the front earlier than he wanted.
"He sort of came up a bit too soon around the bend, I didn't expect him to quicken as well as he did," Sherry said.
"But he's done a tremendous job because I was in front a long way out. He maintained his gallop to the line. I think he's a nice horse going forward."
Up-and-coming stayer confirms Metrop mission
The Group 1 Metropolitan is the immediate target for emerging stayer Unusual Legacy, although trainer Chris Waller is still figuring out the best route to get him there.
Having just his eighth start in the Chandon Handicap (1800m) at Rosehill, the five-year-old spotted leader Forecaster a healthy start at the top of the straight, but lengthened stride beautifully to overhaul him by a length, running out a comfortable winner.
Waller's stable representative Charlie Duckworth confirmed the Metropolitan (2400m) was the target for Unusual Legacy but was unsure if he would run again before then.
"He has basically been working back from a Metropolitan, that's the big target and stepping up to the 1800-metres today was always going to be a step in the right direction," Duckworth said.
"He either goes to 2000-metres in a couple of weeks and we work it out, or if you're confident he's going to get straight in (to the Metropolitan) you look after his mark.
"That's what we've got to work out over the next couple of weeks, whether he needs to run again or he doesn't need to."
Ridden by Kerrin Mcevoy, Unusual Legacy is part-owned by Waller's wife Stephanie, in conjunction with the Muollo family who have been long-time clients of the leading trainer.
Matusalem living up to promise
Waller and McEvoy combined for a race-to-race double 35 minutes later with another Metropolitan hopeful in Matusalem.
The four-year-old's victory in the Hot Rod & Custom Show Handicap was the third from his past four starts but significantly, his first over the Metropolitan's 2400-metre journey.
Duckworth said it was gratifying to see the gelding finally fulfilling his early potential.
"We did think he was going to be our J J Atkins horse as a two-year-old and he never lived up to it, but he is finally coming to fruition now," Duckworth said.
"It has been a three-year work in progress but now he's here and he's a talented stayer in the making.
"I did say to Kerrin as he walked in off the last one (Unusual Legacy), 'this next one, you're going to have an interesting question if you win on that as to which one you're going to need to ride (in the Metropolitan'."
For his part, McEvoy was impressed by both Waller-trained stayers but said Matusalem probably had the edge at this stage of their respective careers.
"This fellow is a bit more battle-hardened, so I'd probably lean towards this fellow for the time being. But they're both improving stayers," McEvoy said.
"He's showed that he can stay with a turn of foot so that gets you a long way once you get out in distance."
Quote of the Day: ""James (McDonald) spoke at the Beanies for Brain Cancer lunch the other day and he tipped her (Lady Shenandoah) as the filly to watch for the whole season, but he still hasn't sat on Autumn Glow yet. We'll leave that until next Saturday until we work out who is the benchmark." – Chris Waller stable representative Charlie Duckworth on whether Autumn Glow or Saturday's Ming Dynasty Quality winner Lady Shenandoah could be their benchmark filly.
