Race favourite Julius justified some heavy tote support when he demolished a quality field in yesterday's group three Darley Stallions Plate (1200m) at Ellerslie.
Unbeaten in his first two starts following a lengthy break, the six-year-old Swiss Ace gelding was sent out at cramped odds to pick up his secondgroup three prize after success in the Concorde Handicap (1200m) at his last start.
Rider Jason Waddell jumped Julius away well from a mid-field barrier to sit within striking distance of the pace that was set up by the speedy mare Rich Billie Marsh.
Waddell began to get serious approaching the home turn as he moved his charge into a challenging position as the back-runners began to make their runs in pursuit of the weakening leaders.
A wall of horses moved into contention at the 300m mark but by this stage Waddell had Julius in full flight as he shot to the lead. Heroic Valour was making good ground on the rail to issue his challenge while Sultan Of Swing was also finishing powerfully but their chase was in vain as Julius was off and gone as he strode home by a neat length in a slick 1.08.32 for the 1200m journey. "He's an original gangster," said Waddell after the race.
"He's big and he's strong even though he's still learning the game. You just can't get past him as he's too big and too strong."
The victory was the sixth from just 10 starts for Julius who has yet to finish out of the top three in his career to date which has seen him earn in just under $180,000 in prizemoney.
Meanwhile, Chris Johnson reined Contessa Vanessa to victory in the group three McKee Family Sunline Vase (2100m). Contessa Vanessa was given a perfect ride in the trail by Johnson and the daughter of Bullbars then finished determinedly for her fifth success in 17 starts.
The winner of the group two Eight Carat Classic (1600m) on Boxing Day, she now has 18.5 points in the race for the New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year title.
With the Oaks winner to receive 12pts, Contessa Vanessa can snatch the title from the currently side-lined Dijon Bleu, who has 30pts, with victory at Trentham.
The lightly-tried Gold Spice came off the back of a maiden win at Pukekohe to take second money with her strong finish at Ellerslie with Marcellina another to come from the back for third.
