Three-year-old Vilanova ended a frustrating run of form to post a Group Two win at Caulfield in the Autumn Classic on Saturday.
The Chris Waller-trained gelding has mixed it with some of the best of his age during his career but had been struggling to recapture his best in Sydney.
Vilanova, Craig Newitt - Photo by Sharon Chapman
Waller sent Vilanova ($10) to Melbourne for the 1800-metre event and under jockey Craig Newitt, the son of Commands settled in a comfortable rhythm at the back and finished strongly down the outside to win by 1-1/2 lengths.
He defeated Countersnip ($6.50) with Alpha Beat ($7) a half neck away third.
Melbourne stable representative Justine Hales said Vilanova had always shown talent but had started doing things wrong in his races and wasn’t relaxing.
He could progress to the Australian Derby.
“Today he just relaxed beautifully,” Hales said.
“We were a bit concerned on the turn, but Craig obviously knew what he was doing.”
The Caulfield win was the former New Zealand galloper’s first victory in Australia at his 17th start after winning in Listed grade in New Zealand early in his career.
