Settled three deep with cover by Tommy Berry, Vancouver looked to have a fight on his hands when stablemate English loomed up at the 200 metres but just as he had in three previous starts this boys final furlong is always his best.
He came away to defeat English (Encosta de Lago) by three-quarters of a length with Coolmore colour-bearer Lake Geneva (Fastnet Rock) finishing strongly for third. (photos Lisa Grimm)
"I've got no words, said winning jockey Tommy Berry.
"One of my best moments on a racetrack was winning it last time (with Overreach) with my brother Nathan by my side and I'm so thankful that he's looking after me today."
"I've got my son here, Kaidan - one person leaves you in the world and another one comes along. I'm just so blessed to have my family here."
"Like I said he'll win the Golden Slipper and then go on to win the Sires Produce and Champagne, I've got one right and I hope I'm right about the others too.
It was the sixth win in the race for Gai Waterhouse equalling the record of her father Tommy.
"He's a joy, he really is and the filly (English) was not disgraceful in the way she attacked the line," Waterhouse said.
"He's a dominant colt and he took it out today, very exciting.
"We'll worry about it after today, but we'll let him go home and have his dinner."
The $1 million Group 1 Sires Produce Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on April 4 looks the next target for Vancouver should he pull up well.
Bred by John Camilleri's Fairway Thoroughbreds and foaled and raised at Coolmore, Vancouver was purchased by Gai Waterhouse/James Harron Bloodstock for $185,000 at the 2014 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale from the draft of Coolmore Stud.
A half-brother to Group 1 Robert Sangster Stakes winner Juste Momente (Giant's Causeway) and Listed stakes-winner Captain Coltish (Fusaichi Pegasus), Vancouver is the tenth named foal of the stakes-placed Danehill mare Skates a half-sister to three stakes-winners including Group III winner and sire Murtajill (Rock of Gibraltar) who won the Breeders' Plate in 2006 and to Bradbury's Luck (Redoute's Choice) who won the Listed Canonbury Stakes in 2004.
Skates is a daughter of Skating (At Talaq) whose wins included the Group I STC Winfield Classic and Group 1AJC Doncaster Handicap in addition to the Group II AJC Surround Stakes and Group III AJC Light Fingers Stakes.
Sadly, Skating died at Segenhoe Stud during the week.
Skates missed to Sepoy in 2012 before foaling a Pierro colt last spring. She was bred back to Medaglia D'Oro (USA) in 2014.
Vancouver becomes the 13th Group 1 winner for Medaglia d'Oro (USA) who has 12 yearlings entered for next month's Inglis Easter yearling sale in Sydney.
