Lee Freedman landed a massive fillip for Darley Stud on Saturday when three-year-old colt Wilander upstaged older sprinters to win the G2 Schillaci Stakes (1000m).
Unwanted in the ring where he drifted from $5 to $7, Wilander scored a last-gasp victory in the $200,000 sprint when he overran $3.10 favourite Lucky Secret in the shadows of the post to score by a long head.
Former stablemate Gamble Me ($7.50), now in the Gai Waterhouse yard, finished strongly to be a length away in third place.
Wilander, owned by Sheikh Mohammed and ridden by Kerrin McEvoy, became only the fourth three-year-old to win the race in the past 20 years.
"I think it's always a gamble to take on the older horses with a young horse like this and he's still not quite mature but got exceptional ability but augurs well for his future I think," Freedman said.
The victory has enhanced the stud value of Wilander, who is out of Group One-winning mare Scandinavia.
"He's a pretty valuable colt now, a Group Two winner against the older horses at weight-for-age so very happy about that," Freedman said.
Wilander will have his final start this spring in the G1 Acot Vale Stakes (1200m) up the Flemington straight six on Derby Day.
"I've always said he's an autumn horse. The Oakleigh Plate and the Newmarket and those races will suit," Freedman said.
Coincidentally, Freedman also trained Schillaci, the horse who the race was named after. Schillaci completed Melbourne's sprinting triple crown - the Lightning Stakes, Oakleigh Plate and Newmarket Handicap - during his three-year-old season in 1992.
Danny Brereton said he was getting worried in the straight when Lucky Secret was beginning to weaken after showing exceptional speed out of the gates to lead.
"He'd done his job early. We never planned to lead but he was left there," Brereton said.
Trainer Mick Price, who claimed the Toorak Handicap with Alamosa, made it a double when Damselfly ($13) kept her unbeaten record in the G3 Thoroughbred Club Stakes (1200m).
The filly, at her third start, scored by a neck from Impressive Eagle ($5.50), with $4.20 favourite Olonana a length and a quarter away in third.
And the aptly named Belong To Many, owned by a syndicate of 800 people, overcame a wide draw to win the Listed Le Tan Stakes (1200m) and give James Winks a double.
Jumping from the widest gate in the 16-horse field, Belong To Many held off an army of challengers, win by a half neck from Bel Mer ($6), with Hanna Rossa ($14) a long head away in third.