Racing: Terravista just too fast in Darley Classic

Terravista came out on top in a field that contained Australia's best sprinters along with unplaced Irish raider, Slade Power. Photo / Thinkstock

It was billed as one of the best races of the Melbourne spring carnival and the A$1 million ($1.1 million) Darley Classic certainly delivered.

Terravista came out on top in a field that contained Australia's best sprinters along with unplaced Irish raider, Slade Power.

Trainer Joe Pride boasted Terravista was Australia's best sprinter before the Manikato Stakes a little over two weeks ago.

The horse may have proven him right with victory in the Darley Classic. Giving Hugh Bowman a second group one victory for the carnival, Terravista ($10) scored a long head win over Chautauqua ($2.45 fav) with Lankan Rupee ($5) three-quarters of a length away third.

Pride said the gelding would now be spelled before an autumn campaign that could see him return to Melbourne for the Newmarket Handicap or run in the rich Sydney autumn carnival.

"I've got to consider prizemoney with a horse like this," Pride said.

"He's done a pretty good job today and won a pretty decent cheque."

Riders of the placegetters, Dwayne Dunn on Chautauqua and Chad Schofield on Lankan Rupee, both said their charges had been super but were beaten by the better horse on the day.

- AAP