After winning last year's Group 1 Australian Cup at Flemington as $61 chance, Lindsay Park's import Harlem (GB) again drove a stake through the hearts of punters when he claimed the race again on Saturday as a $31 chance.
In a driving finish, Harlem defied the Chris Waller-trained Shillelagh (Savabeel) by a short half-head with Trap For Fools (Poet's Voice)) a length away in third. (images Grant Courtney)
There were few happier than Jockey Jamie Kah who celebrated her first Group 1 success after recently moving her tack to Victoria from South Australia.
"I'm speechless. That is just the best feeling in the world," Kah told AAP.
"I didn't expect anything massive straight away so I tried to get to Euroa as much as I could and whenever they wanted me for jump-outs. And it's paid off.
"They supported me in Adelaide and asked when I was coming over here and make the leap.
"I knew it was going to be hard and I didn't think it would have so soon."
Cp trainer David Hates said Harlem came
"He showed incredible fight, he was beaten twice and kicked back," David Hayes said.
"I thought he was in terrific form, but I thought a few of them were.
"He goes well at Flemington and at the 2000 metres and it was a great ride by Jamie, an 11 out of 10
A 7yo gelding, Harlem advances his record to 5 wins, 2 seconds and 2 thirds from 29 starts with earnings of $2,295,702.
A 520,000
He was trained in Europe by Andre Fabre to win a Longchamp maiden over 2400m before a Listed stakes win over the same trip at Vichy.
Also placed at Group II and Group III level in France, Harlem made his first start in Australia March 2017 with an excellent third behind Palentino and Tosen Stardom (JPN) in the Group II Blamey Stakes (1600m) at Flemington.
A half-brother to the stakes-placed Shearling (Rail Link), Harlem is out of the Nayef mare Casual a 3-time winner in Ireland up to one and a half miles.
Casual is a half-sister to Listed winner Rich Coast (King's Best) from the family of Alwyn Park Stud stallion Trade Fair (GB).
