Godolphin/
Settled just off the pace set by Yao Dash, Bivouac was set down to an all-out drive by Hugh Bowman at the 300 metres but came under immediate attack by Yes Yes Yes who looked to have all the momentum under Nash Rawiller.
But Bivouac refused to yield and he fought off the Rubick colt to win by a short-neck with a further half-length back to another high-class son of Exceed And Excel, Exceedance, back in third. (images Steve Hart)
It was the sixth win in the race for Darley/Godolphin and the fifth for Bowman who returned to the saddle after two weeks off due to a broken finger.
Bivouac has had to earn his place at the head of the pecking order at Godolphin. Last season he had a decision over the Golden Slipper favourite Cosmic Force in the Listed Lonhro Plate and Libertini in the Group III Kindergarten Stakes although he was beaten into fourth place in the Group II Todman Stakes won by Yes Yes Yes.
Winning trainer James Cummings was immediately fielding questions about Bivouac lining up in the $14 million The Everest and he still holds entries for the Coolmore Stud Stakes and Caulfield Guineas.
"There are plenty of options on the table and we're in a very commanding position with a horse like him," Cummings told AAP
"I couldn't help but think he had no right running the 1400 metres today but on account of the preparation he's had and the culmination of so much effort from the unit to get behind this horse and give him this build-up he's had was just perfection.
"We know the key to the horse, we've taught him to relax, we've trained him to run seven furlongs and you know what, he's probably the best six-furlong three-year-old in the country.
It's a wonderful credit to the horse and an amazing credit to Hugh Bowman, who had a broken finger only two weeks ago."
A hugely impressive winner of the Group III Vain Stakes at Caulfield back on August 17, the son of Exceed And Excel advances his overall record to 5 wins, 2 seconds and 1 third from 9 starts with earnings of $1,092,000.
A homebred for Godolphin, Bivouac is a three-quarter brother to the 4-time Group 1 winner Guelph, out of the More Than Ready (USA) mare Dazzler who won her first two starts at Geelong and Flemington in an 11-start career.
Dazzler is a half-sister to Guelph and the Group II ATC Todman Stakes winner Ghibellines out of Elusive Quality's Group 1 AJC Sires' Produce Stakes winner Camarilla who had just four foals before her tragic death in October 2012.
Dazzler's first foal Coruscate (Exceed Abd Excel), a full brother to Bivouac was a 4-time winner and placed in the Group II ATC Skyline Stakes and Group III ATC Pago Pago Stakes.
She has a yearling filly by Medaglia D'Oro (USA) and was covered by Lonhro last spring.
Bivouac becomes the 13th Group 1 winner for Exceed And Excel who enjoyed success earlier in the day with another promising 3yo colt, Standout.
