Out of the winner’s circle for over a year, the four-year-old Fiorente gelding Power Scheme justified the faith of punters with a fighting win in the opener over 1700 metres on Caulfield Cup day.
Under am inspired ride by Mark Zahra, Power Scheme scythed between runners in the straight to defeat the 50/1 outsider All Hard Woos (All Too Hard) by three-quarters of a length with Just Like Mum (Reset) a half-head back in third.
Winner of the Listed Fernhill Hcp (1600m) at Randwick at two, Power Scheme was an early favourite for the Victoria Derby following a first-up win at Moonee Valley at three. However, his form tapered off before showing he was back on track with placings in the Mornington Guineas and Group III Carbine Club Stakes at Randwick.
At his seasonal debut at four, the Tom Dabernig and Ben Hayes-trained gelding impressed with a solid-finishing third over 1400m at Caulfield
Bred
and retained to race by Sun Bloodstock, Power Scheme has three wins, two seconds and three thirds from 17 starts with earnings of $383,910.
“I thought Mark rode him excellent,” Ben Hayes said.
“I was a bit worried at the top of the straight, but Mark didn’t panic, rode for a bit of luck, and we got the luck at the right time.
“The horse ran fantastic. He has been working well coming into the race. I think he is in for a nice prep.”
A brother to the top-class Hawkshot, the winner of the Group II MRC Autumn Stakes and runner up in the Group 1 Australian Guineas, Power Scheme is the third winner from as many to race from the Encosta de Lago mare Rosa Perlato, a daughter of stakes-placed Fiammarosa from the family of Group I winners Shindig and Shinzig.
Purchased for $41,000 from a Patinack Farm reduction in 2012, Rosa Perlato has a yearling colt by Thronum and foaled a full-sister to Power Scheme and Hawkshot on August 26.
The Group 1 Melbourne Cup and Australian Guineas hero Fioremte (IRE) stands at Sun Stud for a fee of $17,600.
