With a CV that shows he has raced at Longchamp in Paris, Meydan in Dubai, Happy Valley in Hong Kong and Warwick Farm in Sydney, it wouldn't have raised any eyebrows if Chris Waller's gelding Silverball had been on duty at Randwick, where the international stars were gathered for The Championships.
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Instead the six-year-old son of Epsom Derby winner Kahyasi was on duty at Flemington running off the minimum impost in an open handicap over 1600 metres, where the weights were headed by Signoff.
The punters didn't miss the globetrotting grey, however, as he was sent off the $4.60 joint favourite with Ben Melham in the saddle. And their confidence proved justified as Waller's charge came from ninth at the 400-metre mark to win cosily by a length and a quarter.
With Waller stable foreman Justine Hales later revealing the stable hopes the international galloper will turn out to be group class he probably represented one of the bets of the day.
Darren Weir's Signoff, who had run fourth in the Melbourne Cup last November, made a pleasing reappearance after a five month break. He eventually finished eighth, but had travelled prominently until the closing stages and will be better for the run.
Weir said he will next be aimed at the Pakenham Cup over 2000 metres in a fortnight and any decisions on an extension to his autumn program would be made after that.
Riding honours for the day went to Melham, who won the last two races, ending the program with a win on Bryce Stanaway's evergreen stayer Crafty Cruiser ($6), and to Chris Symons, who struck early. Symons won the second race of the day on Luke Oliver's Kansas Sunflower (backed from $7 to $5.50) and followed up two heats later on Greg Eurell's Actuariat ($6.50), who just got up in a driving finish to beat Vuelta and Setinum.
It was also a day to remember for Kiwi apprentice Michael Dee, who rode his first Flemington winner aboard $15 shot Hard Romp, who was too good for hot favourite Ball Of Muscle in the 1000-metre handicap.
Nigel Blackiston has a young distance horse of some potential in Manapine, who scored under Dwayne Dunn in the $150,000 Galilee Stayers final over 2500 metres.
The $3 favourite had too many guns for Mick Kent's Oncidium Ruler ($7.50) with All I Survey, from Pat Carey's yard, third two-and-three-quarter lengths away.
Manapine may now be set for the VRC St Leger or the SA Derby: a decision will be made after Blackiston consults with the gelding's owner, Arrowfield Stud.
Henry Dwyer produced a surprise winner when $26 shot Bel Show scored for Michelle Payne in the three-year-old 1200-metre sprint. Dwyer praised injured jockey Jack Hill, who, he said, had done most of the work on the son of Bel Esprit.
The Danny O'Brien and James Winks combination got on the board when Second Bullet ($7.50) was too good in the Nightline Handicap, while Tommy Hughes got a welcome Flemington winner with two-year-old Black Vanquish in the opener.
