Sydney and the Golden Rose is the next stop for unbeaten colt Merchant Navy following a dominant win in Saturday's Group III HDF McNeil Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield.
Restrained towards the rear as Kobayashi went out with a clear lead by the halfway mark, Merchant Navy was still at the rear around the home turn but beginning to rev up under Mark Zahra.
The Mathew Ellerton and Simon Zahra-trained Booker ($6) sprinted to the lead inside the final 200m but the filly had no answer to the finishing surge of Merchant Navy ($3.50 fav) who went by to score by a head.
Merchant Navy had not raced since winning the Listed Anzac Day Stakes over 1400m at Flemington in April and trainer Ciaron Maher said
"He's a very exciting colt and you just love to see them resume like that," Maher said.
"He'd furnished during the break and put the writing on the wall with his trials and the team has done a great job to get him here today."
The son of Fastnet Rock has won his four starts and Maher expects Merchant Navy to improve further.
"He was nice and relaxed today which is a great sign for the future as he was quite a raw colt and wanted to get on with it a little bit as a two-year-old," Maher said
"Now he's furnished into a more rounded racehorse and stretching out over the longer trips he looks as though he will relax really well.
"He actually raced like a horse looking for a trip today he was so relaxed. He's a pretty casual bugger, really good set of lungs and he's really well bred.
"He'll go to the Golden Rose next in three weeks then back here for the Caulfield Guineas."
Zahra said Merchant Navy is still learning his craft.
"He's got no early speed and he's still learning," Zahra said. "When he got to the lead he half pricked on ear and pulled up so he's got a bit of improvement in him I'd say."
Muraahib ($19) made up several lengths in the home straight to be beaten 1 1/4-lengths for third, the trip completed in 1:20.84 on the upgraded good(3) track.
