The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained Broadside produced a massive form reversal to win Friday's $175,000 Group III Newcastle Gold Cup (2300m).
Broadside finished last of eight behind stablemate Dee I Cee as a $4.60 chance when resuming in the Listed Premiers Cup (1900m) at Rosehill on August 26 but turned that on its head with a front running performance to score and give Tim Clark a feature double after the jockey won the Cameron Handicap the previous race.
Clear around the home turn, Broadside fought off the early challenges to draw clear 200m out before holding the late rally from Auvray ($9) to score by a neck with Admiral Jello ($10) a further 1 1/2-lengths off third.
Broadside commenced his career in New Zealand before being purchased by clients of Waterhouse and Bott.
Bott told Sky Racing there was a legitimate reason for the form turnaround.
"Full credit to the horse - he's bounced back after a tough run," Bott said. "To produce a run like that second-up takes a tough horse.
"We were disappointed (last start) but he had legitimate excuses being first-up over 1900 metres and he had a really tough run in a strong tempo race.
"Today we got a nice draw and after jumping away cleanly Tim was able to rate him to suit.
"This is a race we like to target - he'll head to the Metropolitan next and he's in some of the feature races in Melbourne."
Clark said the six-year-old son of Raise The Flag is open to further improvement.
"He settled into a lovely rhythm and we quickened at the thousand and then again at the half mile," Clark said.
"We had a plan to try and steal a break on them and to his credit he toughed it out really well.
"He was only second-up and he's got a bit more improvement in him."
The Darren Weir-trained Pacodali started the $2.35 favourite and after enjoying a perfect ride from Damian Lane, loomed large around the home turn but was unable to quicken and weakened to finish eighth of nine.
.@GaiWaterhouse1 claims her fourth #Newcastle Gold Cup, with Broadside leading all the way! pic.twitter.com/zhCVpIPXir
— Sky Racing (@SkyRacingAU) September 15, 2017
