The Getaway faces a short turnaround into the Listed McKell Cup after the unfancied gelding claimed the Edward Deas Thomson Hall Of Fame Handicap at Rosehill.
Sent out as a $41 outsider, the Paul Perry-trained stayer timed his run to perfection under apprentice Jean Van Overmeire to upstage favourite Roman Son.
Perry’s son Nathan said next Saturday’s feature over 2400m at Randwick was a possibility for The Getaway’s 11th run of this preparation.
“I see no reason why not, he’s a good doing horse and this type of year there’s a good chance to pick up those kinds of races,” he said.
Perry was relieved for owner Heath Newton after The Getaway’s last start fourth in the Listed Wagga Wagga Gold Cup (2000m) on May 4.
“He’s been a long-time client and a Wagga boy, that’s why we took him to Wagga the other day,” he said.
The Getaway claimed a tight finish with tempo setter Naval Warfare ($5) by a half head. Araaja ($11) finished strongly to cross a long neck third.
Perry said the 2000m trip panned out perfectly for The Getaway, who won for the first time since August last year.
“We anticipated a strong tempo and he likes to get down the outside too,” he said.
Roman Son, the $1.75 favourite, bypassed the Group One Doomben Cup to target Rosehill for his third straight win but he never fired in the straight and had to settle for fifth.
Trainer Richard Freedman offered no excuses and jockey Blake Shinn surprised at the off-key performance that left him 1-3/4 lengths off the winner.
“He was a bit disappointing, he just never gave me that three-length kicker that he’s shown in his past couple,” Shinn said.
