Darley second stringer Skytrain has won the Listed Canterbury Classic after 48 hours of frustration for the stable.
Skytrain’s stablemate and early race favourite Sessions was withdrawn on Thursday with an inflamed testicle.
Kerrin McEvoy gave up the ride on Pinwheel in the Group Two Australia Stakes at Moonee Valley to ride Sessions but was left to watch from the sidelines at Canterbury as Christian Reith steered Skytrain to victory.
Skytrain was entered for both Canterbury and Moonee Valley where Pinwheel was an unlucky second to Sea Lord.
Reith settled Skytrain ($8) back in the field and bided his time on the fence waiting for an opening which came at the right time for the gelding to take the opportunity and go on to beat Uate ($4.80) by three-quarters of a length with Jest Crewsin’ ($41) another 1-1/4 lengths third.
“Scratching (Sessions) was a hard decision to make but in the end we had no decision. It was made for us,” trainer Peter Snowden said.
“But it’s great to have a consolation horse like Skytrain going into the race.
“He’s had a few tags from a few people.
“He’s been costly to punters and I don’t blame them for giving him a bagging at times.
“He was on song tonight and it was a brilliant ride. He just smothered him back and got the gaps.”
Comeback galloper Whitefriars was up running second in the early stages of the race but laboured under his 61kg topweight in the straight and finished last of the eight runners.
Favourite Didntcostalot ($4.40) had a torrid run three-wide throughout and weakened to beat only Whitefriars to the line.
