Light Fantastic has gained first blood in the battle of Australia's two most exciting horses, edging out Weekend Hussler in the Group 2 JJ Liston Stakes at Caulfield.
The Mick Price trained four-year-old maintained its unbeaten streak, coming from behind the odds-on favourite on the turn to win by half a length on the line. It was a fantastic first instalment to one of the most anticipated rivalries in recent years.
Light Fantastic powered through his grades in his first preparation, culminating in his success in the Australian Guineas at Flemington in March. On the same day, Weekend Hussler won the Newmarket Handicap, and then enhanced his reputation as the star of Australian racing by winning two more Group Ones in Sydney to make it six successes at the top level in one season.
The Liston had been earmarked as the return for both horses on their way to the Cox Plate for some time and while Weekend Hussler had suffered a foot abscess earlier in the week, the punters were still very keen on him and he started a $1.70 favourite.
Jockey Brad Rawiller settled the Hussler just off the pace which was being set by Live In Vain and Jungle Ruler. Craig Newitt on Light Fantastic ($4) took a trail behind his rival.
As they rounded the turn, Rawiller pulled Weekend Hussler to the outside, while Newitt got up along his inside to make his run. While Light Fantastic looked to be under more pressure, he responded better to Newitt's urgings to get up and tackle Maldivian.
Weekend Hussler tried hard to bridge the gap over the final 200m, but his fellow four-year-old had enough up his sleeve to prevail, while Maldivian's return to the track saw him finish a close third.
Price said after the race that he thought Weekend Hussler would be advantaged first-up and that his horse might find victory beyond him.
"My gut feel was that he was going to run well and get beat. I wouldn't have been unhappy if he had have got beat. He'll sleep well tonight," he said.
"It was a great weight-for-age slog-fest wasn't it," he said. "I just thought I had the horse right for a good performance, but it's very exciting."
Having won round one of the new rivalry, Price said he already feels like this could evolve into something like the battle between the two New Zealand stars Our Waverley Star and Bonecrusher in the mid-1980s.
"It's great for racing, I just hope they keep doing, the Bonecrusher, Our Waverly Star thing, but I need to be Bonecrusher," he said.
Newitt was full of praise for his mount after such a strong first-up performance.
"What a horse. He bounced well and he was more relaxed than he's been previously, which surprised me," he said. "The other horse was going to beat him all the way down the straight, but he's got a fantastic will to win."
"He really loves a dog fight and that's what he got today. That's round one to us."