The Chris Waller-trained The Verminator has made the transition from a Wyong Cup victory last month to a dominant win in the Group One Metropolitan at Randwick on Saturday.
The Verminator won comfortably by 2-3/4 lengths and the Rosehill trainer grabbed the quinella when Hawk Island stormed home for second in the 2400m feature.
Lamasery was a head away third.
The Verminator, a five-year-old by 1994 Melbourne Cup winner Jeune, scored his seventh win from 24 starts which have also netted nine placings for more than $550,000 in prize money.
The gelding scored a comfortable win in the Listed Wyong Cup (2100m) on September 2 and was a close-up fifth to Green Moon in the Group Three Newcastle Cup (2300m) last start.
Ridden on Saturday by Victorian Craig Newitt, The Verminator was always handy to the lead and dashed away at the top of the straight.
“I thought he was going to win a long way out,” Newitt said.
“When he topped the rise (in the straight) he was full of running and he went to the line full of running.
“Chris is one of the greatest trainers in Australia.”
AAP TURF
