A strong pace up front made it hard for race favourite Sadler's Lake from gate 16, but played into the hands of up and coming stayer Upham.
Patiently ridden by Kerrin McEvoy, he improved on seconds at his previous two runs in the Group III Gunsynd Classic and Rough Habit Plate to snare his first Black Type victory in the 2020 metre event by a length and a quarter.
A $100,000 NZB Premier purchase for his trainer from the Wentwood Grange draft,
Upham has won three races and placed four times from eight starts earning
$178,360 in prizemoney.Interestingly, that Wentwood Grange draft also produced Australian Group I winners Kermadec (ATC Doncaster) and Gust of Wind (ATC Australian Oaks), so if you believe things go in threes maybe Upham might be winning that Queensland Derby!
He is the fourth stakes-winner from top producing stakes-placed Gold Brose mare Gold Class, whose other notable offspring are Group III winner Intimate Moment and stakes-winners Bonnie Mac and Gold Rum.
He is the 14th stakes-winner worldwide for the dashing grey Danehill Dancer stallion Mastercraftsman (IRE), who shuttled to Windsor Park in New Zealand for a number of seasons from Coolmore Ireland.
