The Elvstroem Classic is a sought after two-year-old race at the three-day Swan Hill Carnival and has been taken out by the Patrick Payne-trained Quang Tri.
The 1300m race on Friday is named after the Tony Vasil-trained Elvstroem that scored a debut win at the meeting in 2003.
Elvstroem went on to win the following year’s Caulfield Cup along with a number of other Group 1 wins along with success on the international stage.
Tony Vasil also produced Haradasun, a half-brother to Elvstroem, to win on debut in the same race as his older sibling three years later, by 10 lengths.
Haradasun claimed the Doncaster Handicap at Randwick before heading overseas where he won the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot in 2008.
While Quang Tri may not reach the heights of Elvstroem or Haradasun, Joe O’Neill from Prime Thoroughbreds, the owner of the filly, said there was upside with the filly.
Sent out the $2.35 favourite under Michael Dee, Quang Tri scored a half-length win from Kings Consort ($2.50) with Deep Point ($6) three-quarters-of-a-length away third.
“Her second dam ran second in the ATC Australian Oaks, so there is plenty of upside, and her sister Saigon is a very good mare in Sydney, so we’re happy, happy, happy,” O’Neill told racing.com.
“She’s bred to get over ground which I think she’ll get in time, and now she’s qualified now for Final’s Day (at Flemington) on July 2.”
O’Neill revealed that Friday’s victory was his 80th success with Payne.
“He rode a few horses for me, and I gave him one to train back in 2015,” O’Neill said.
“Husson Eagle was the first then there’s been Rubisaki, Invincible Al, The Cunning Fox, The Nephew, they just role on.
“We’ve spent $1.6 million on horses with Patrick, and he’s returned over $7 million.
“He’s done a good job.”
