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 second group 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.
