With three top chances, Mark Newnham had a Chris Waller-like stranglehold on Saturday's Listed January Cup at Randwick, and he duly got the job done with a stayer that has a future.
Never further back in five starts in Australia, Darby Racing's Spirit Ridge (GB) added the feature to his last start win in the Group III Summer Cup.
Given a copybook ride by Robbie Dolan, the 6yo son of Nathaniel defeated the Novellist gelding Wolf (JPN) by three-quarters of a length with the So You Think gelding Mr Marathon Man the same distance back in third.
Newnham said he considers Spirit Ridge (GB) up to a race like the Sydney Cup.
"That was fantastic to see. Another peach of a ride by Robbie," Newnham said.
"The way they ran it, it turned into a bit of a sprint home. He was at his top at the top of the straight, but you could see his staying qualities shine late.
"In the autumn getting up to a mile and a half, and maybe a Sydney Cup will be on the agenda.
"He will go out for a little break now, and we will look to the Manion Cup and Sydney Cup for him."
Purchased by De Burgh Equine/Darby Racing for 100,000 guineas at the 2019 Tattersalls Autumn Horses In Training Sale, Sprit Ridge (GB) advances his record to five wins and four seconds from 13 starts with earnings of $258,224.
Spirit Ridge (GB) is out of the outstanding Rahy mare Tates Creek who won 11 of her 17 starts including two at the elite level, the Yellow Ribbon Stakes and Gamely Handicap.
The Juddmonte Farms homebred is a half-sister to 7-time Group 1 winner Sightseek and to the dam of the Cheveley Park Stakes, Poule d'Essai des Pouliches and One Thousand Guineas heroine Special Duty.
