Prepared by Nikki Burke, Unpretentious was tuned up with a recent Cranbourne barrier trial win and was fit, but fresh for this 1000 metre dash.
He settled back in the small field for Damien Oliver and finished with a well-timed run to edge out Pago Rock and win the prestigious sprint by a head.
"He's had so much bad luck, he should have won five or six races," said Nikki
Burke."I always knew he was a good horse and now he's ready to fulfil on that promise."
The Group I VRC Patinack Farm Classic over 1200 metres at Flemington is on the agenda for Unpretentious.
"He's 100% sound and strong now and I can't wait to get to Flemington," Burke added.
Passed in shy of his $60,000 reserve when offered by Three Bridges Thoroughbreds at the 2010 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale, Unpretentious was retained to race by his co-breeder Shane Stiles in partnership with a large group of owners and has won four of 11 starts earning nearly $300,000 in prizemoney.
Unpretentious is the second winner for Favorite Trick (USA) mare Alisa Free, a half-sister to Group I winner Rockabubble.
Alisa Free has a yearling colt by Bel Esprit and was covered by Stratum again last spring.
Unpretentious is one of 20 stakes-winners for Stratum, who stands at Widden Stud at a fee of $38,500.
