The prize money on offer for young stayers was the catalyst for New Zealand trainer Paul Richards to bring Mazzuro to Victoria.
The trip paid dividends at Sandown on Saturday when the $41 outsider scored in the Ladbrokes Cash Out Handicap.
Ridden by Jye McNeil, Mazzuro defeated Mr Monaco ($26) by three-quarters-of-a-length with Greycliffe ($21) a length away third.
“You race here for $22,000 and $25,000 in maiden races and he was running for $120,000 today,” Richards said.
“That’s a Group Two race back home so it’s not a hard decision to come over.
“We’ll enjoy the moment and make a decision tomorrow, but I’d say we’ll stay for a bit longer now.”
Richards said the trip to Melbourne has been the makings of the gelding.
“He’s got better as he’s gone along and has the looks of a promising staying horse,” he said.
The father of Jamie Richards, who in partnership with Stephen Autridge trains the large Te Akau Racing team in New Zealand, is moving to join his son at Matamata when he returns home.
Punters who heavily supported the $1.40 favourite Lucky For All, backing the three-year-old in from $1.55, were left holding their tickets.
The gelding, a last-start impressive Caulfield winner, was shuffled out of the race running to the home turn and didn’t get clear galloping room in the straight, eventually finishing seventh.
