Andrew Wu at Moonee Valley
Guillotine, the younger brother of Efficient, stormed into cups calculations on Saturday when he upset the big guns to win the G2 Dato' Tan Chin Nam Stakes (1600m) at Moonee Valley.
Transferred to the David Hayes yard after being formerly trained in Sydney by David Payne, Guillotine ($31) upset more fancied rivals such as the $1.90 favourite Maldivian and 2007 Australian Cup winner Pompeii Ruler ($4.60).
Guillotine trailed the leading pack as Jungle Ruler set a fast pace out front, stringing the field out.
He trailed Alamosa, who made his move 600m out on the fence, into the race and shouldered his way clear 150 out, making his run with Casual Pass.
At that point Maldivian, who had settled fourth but was posted three-wide in the run, was a length clear but his tough run was beginning to take its toll.
He was collared with 100m left by Guillotine, who went on to win by a long neck from the honest Casual Pass. Emirates Stakes winner Tears I Cry finished strongly to be a neck away in third place.
Maldivian weakened to run fourth but was less than a length away from the winner.
Hayes had entered the race not thinking Guillotine could upstage his more illustrious rivals.
"The stars in the race scared me a bit," Hayes said. "I was going to go for the JRA Handicap but we might get a bit more ambitious."
Guillotine's win means he cannot be balloted out of next month's Caulfield Cup, a race he would have otherwise had trouble gaining a start in as he had only been given 50kg for the race.
"He's bumped his handicap in one hit," said Hayes, who had won the race twice previously with Cox Plate winners Better Loosen Up and Fields Of Omagh.
"It's got a bit to go to catch them but he beat some good horses today."
The win was a fillip for Guillotine's connections, who last week endured the disappointment of having proven stayer Gorky Park break down with a serious tendon injury.
"They thought they had the ideal Caulfield, Melbourne Cup horse, but I think they've got a classier horse," Hayes said. "Gorky would have run last in that."
Hayes is likely to take a WFA path to the Caulfield Cup with Guillotine, who has won his only two starts since changing stables.
The disappointment of the race was the run of Pompeii Ruler, who after racing forward and being trapped wide weakened to finish 12th.
"They just can't afford to have a hard run. The horse is going good but he needs racing to be able to do that," said trainer Mick Price.
Pompeii Ruler will have his next start in next Saturday's G1 Underwood Stakes (1800m) at Caulfield where he will take on superstar Weekend Hussler.
Meanwhile in Sydney, Payne received a consolation prize when his mare Hurried Choice held off a fast-finishing Forensics to take out the G2 Theo Marks Stakes (1300m) at Rosehill. Third home was outsider Ice Chariot.