It has been a day for the imports with the Chris Waller-trained Stand to Gain causing an upset and winning the Group 1 Sydney Cup (3200m).
Stand to Gain ($20) won by a length to the Gai Waterhouse-trained Older Than Time ($17), who motored late.
Runaway leader Solid Billing ($61) fought on well to claim third, a further length away.
The race was marred by a fall at the 600m mark, when Adelaide Cup winner Muir stumbled.
While he didn’t fall, he brought down another Chris Waller import, Hawk Island, and the Mike Moroney-trained Tinseltown.
Both horses looked to be unharmed by the fall, with both galloping home behind the field.
Initial reports had jockey Glyn Schofield (Hawk Island) conscious and sitting up, but suffering a suspected broken collarbone.
Kerrin McEvoy (Tinseltown) took a while to regain consciousness and has been taken to St Vincent’s Hospital for observation.
Stand to Gain was purchased from the UK at the Tattersalls Horses in Training Sale in October 2009, and has won three races from 13 starts for Waller.
“We knew we needed a wet track to be competitive, luckily we got that today,” Waller said.
Jockey Rod Quinn almost missed the opportunity to ride Stand to Gain, with a new phone causing technical difficulties when connections tried to book him this morning.
“I had six or seven missed calls, didn’t even think to check my phone,” Quinn said.
“Luckily they decided to keep me.”
As for the spring, Waller says plans are up in the air.
“He’ll go for a spell now and we’ll continue to dream for the next few months,” Waller said, referring to the Melbourne Cup.
The Melbourne Cup is also likely to be on the agenda for Older Than Time, who seemed to relish the 3200m journey.
“She’ll be a good mare next time in,” jockey Glen Boss said.
Written by Andrew Hawkins
