Greg Childs gave a yelp to himself when he went across the line first on Oliver Twist in Saturday's $A500,000 Mackinnon Srakes.
The former Kiwi jockeys admits if there was a negative about Sunline's stunning win in last week's $A2 million Cox Plate it was all the excuses put forward for the beaten stars Tie The Knot, Shogun Lodge and Sky Heights.
"This win makes Sunline's form look pretty outstanding," he said.
"Oliver Twist finished fourth behind Sunline and now he comes out and wins this a week later."
Childs rode Oliver Twist as magnificently as he rode Sunline a week earlier.
He smothered the greatly improved star behind the leaders and did not go around one horse to issue his rails challenge.
"I admit I was worried when I was locked up behind the leading bunch early in the run home and I had an unsuccessful go at getting off the rail at one point.'
"Fortunately they rolled away from the rail and we got the gap we needed."
No horse in the last decade has improved as much as Oliver Twist.
He even astounds trainer Brian Mayfield Smith.
"This horse is remarkable, he's just so tough. Twenty minutes after the Cox Plate last week he was jumping around like an underworked spring 2-year-old.
"And all this week he's had en eye like an eagle.
"I told the owner last week he had a fit horse. I said this morning he had a super fit horse."
Mayfield Smith ruled out any chance of Oliver Twist going to the Hong Kong Cup International meeting in December.
"I've always wanted to give him a crack at a 2400m race and the Sandown Classic in two weeks looks the ideal time.
"He hasn't been hammered in any of his races this campaign and now is the time to aim at something like that."
In finishing 12th, Sky Heights provided trainer Colin Alderson with no answers on why he went so poorly in last week's Cox Plate. He sat four and five wide throughout this race and had to lodge his challenge in the worst part of the track but, surprisingly, Alderson was not using that as an excuse.
"He travelled deep, but in my opinion that was not what beat him.
"He should still have finished off better than he did. I don't know, if I can't get him right I'll just have to wait on him. He's a class above those horses when he's right and I was certain I had him right today."
Racing: Childs proves his point with last-gasp win
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