Cru Classe (NZ) (Reliable Man) prevailed in the Ciaron Maher Racing Premiership Handicap (2412m) on Saturday in a tooth and nail fight up the Caulfield straight.
Under jockey Dean Yendall’s urgings, Cru Classe ($7) scored a short-half-head win from Dubai Moon (Pride of Dubai) ($31) with the leader Bow Thruster (Press Statement) ($101) holding on for third, a further 1-¼ lengths away.
“It was the worst run I ever would’ve imagined for a 2400-metre race, they just walked,” Yendall said.
“Even at the half-mile they got slower again but she travelled lovely the whole way throughout.
“I had the right run for that sort of run race and I was able to bring her to the outside and ask for effort and she got the job done.”
Trainer Patrick Payne got extra satisfaction out of the victory, providing the former champion jockey his 18th metropolitan winner and 70th overall for the season.
“That is a huge thrill for me,” Payne said.
“My sons, Jordan and Lachlan are in the horse, it’s the second horse they’ve owned, and Josh Xipell, a champion fella who is not in the best of health at the moment, but has been with me since I started.
“He had Field Master with me when I first started training and they’re his colours and along with Jack Clapham who sent her over from New Zealand.
“Everyone is high-fiving each other.”
Payne is unsure how far Cru Classe will progress, describing her as a “really skinny little thing”.
“But she is tough and can stay,” Payne said.
“Dean Yendall rode her great. On the corner I thought she was half-a-chance, half-way down the straight I wasn’t sure and even right on the line I wasn’t sure, but anyway she got the job done.”
Later on the card Sacred Palace (NZ) (Sacred Falls) continued his good run of form with a win in the Filter Form Handicap (1200m).
The son of Sacred Falls had a length and three quarters margin on the line from Ashford Street (Moshe) ($15), a benchmark 58 handicap winner at Casterton earlier in the week, who nosed out The Garden (Shooting To Win) ($4.20 favourite) for second.
It was jockey Brett Prebble’s third win this week for trainer Lindsay Smith and the 43-year-old was thrilled to pick up the ride.
“I think the horse needed the penny to drop. He probably should have been coming here aiming for three straight,” Prebble said.
“He’s on an upward climb and I obviously got the benefit today. Dec (Bates) got suspended and I picked up the crumbs. Dec will probably be back on and I’m sure he’s going to repay him. He’s a horse on the way up.
“He’s a really enjoyable ride, he travels strong and give you a lovely kick when you want it.”
Cru Classe and Sacred Palace were part of a New Zealand-bred treble at Caulfield on Saturday with Sansom (NZ) (Charm Spirit) winning the Gr.3 Bletchingly Stakes.
