Racing: Veteran stayer hits high note at Randwick

No Wine No Song. Photo / Getty Images

No Wine No Song may be a 9-year-old but trainer Kevin Moses is keen to give the evergreen stayer his chance in the Melbourne Cup on November 2 after his latest staying victory at Randwick.

The 2008 Sydney Cup winner came from last in the small field of five to win the group three Colin Stephen Quality (2400m) on Saturday.

The victory elevated him to $7 favouritism with TAB Sportsbet for next Saturday's Metropolitan (2400m) at Randwick.

Moses also prepared runner-up Get Up Jude but the major shock of the race was the disappointing performance of the Gai Waterhouse-trained odds-on favourite and impressive last-start winner Herculian Prince ($1.40), who led the field to the home turn but failed to beat a runner home.

The veterinarian reported that Herculian Prince had choked down.

"We expected him to win by five lengths," Herculian Prince's jockey Nash Rawiller told stewards.

His participation in the Metropolitan, for which he was favourite before the Colin Stephen, is now in doubt with the former New Zealander drifting to $10 after failing in his first test over 2400m.

No Wine No Song's victory added to his feature wins at Randwick after successes in the 2007 group two Chairman's Handicap (2600m) and 2008 Chairman's as well as the Sydney Cup (3200m).

Saturday's win was his first since the Sydney Cup triumph more than two years ago.

"He's had two tendon injuries and he's had a bowel operation," Moses said.

"He's a good old horse and he's been good to me.

"He is a stayer and the other horse [Herculian Prince] hadn't proved that he was a stayer."

Both No Wine No Song and Get Up Jude will back up next week.

The Randwick trainer will then look towards the 150th Melbourne Cup with No Wine No Song after he has missed the past three spring carnivals.

"He's earned enough now to take him for the Cup in Melbourne," Moses said.

"The EI [equine influenza] came [in 2007], and then his tendon went. I know he's a bit old now but he does stay."

Jim Cassidy was happy to sit back on No Wine No Song before bringing him home down the outside in the straight to score by a neck over his stablemate, with Legsman a short head away third.

"I thought the favourite was a risk at the trip and I was happy to be back, biding my time," Cassidy said.

"He'll back up next week and just about get the chocolates again."

- AAP