Damian Lane bounced back from a fall to ride consecutive winners at Flemington, highlighted by Humidor's dominant performance in the Group I Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m).
Lane crashed to the turf when Limestone clipped heels near the finish in the Danehill Stakes then rode Sword Of Light to victory in the Group II Let's Elope Stakes before piloting Humidor to score his second Group I win at Flemington.
Humidor was suited by a strong early pace set by Hey Doc and Lane was content to pass halfway in last place with Hartnell second.
Hartnell ($1.70 fav) got to the lead with 400m to go but could not accelerate clear, Humidor ($12 - $17) sprinting past wider out and going on to score eased down by 3 1/4-lengths.
Lane won last season's Australian Cup on Humidor and is credited by trainer Darren Weir for doing much of work to harness the energy of the sometimes recalcitrant five-year-old.
"He just smashed them," Lane said. "He's a great talent and he's really starting to put it together now.
"He just lobbed along at the back there and even though I had them all in front of me I thought I was the winner a long way from home.
"Credit to Darren and all the team, they've got a great knack of getting horses to relax and this horse has come such a long way since joining the stable.
"It's great to add another Group One to my record and after hitting the deck earlier I'm just glad to be able to get back out there."
Weir said Humidor has always shown him great promise since transferring from New Zealand.
"He's always shown great promise and that was unbelievable really. It's just always been a matter of getting his manners right and I think we're winning the battle," Weir said.
"Damian's done a lot of the hard work with him, getting to Casterton and Coleraine and those places with him. He had a gallop at Casterton on Monday actually and didn't go ideal but he's had a good week since then."
Weir said he began to feel confident when he saw the way Humidor was travelling around the home turn.
"When I saw him tracking up behind them after they'd gone along at a fair pace I thought he'd let go but I didn't think he'd let go like that," Weir said.
"The Caulfield Cup has been the plan with him all along and that's where we'll head."
Black Heart Bart ($8.50) finished a half length behind Hartnell in third place and Weir said he was satisfied with the run.
"He's gone about as good as you could expect and I thought Gailo Chop (4th) ran alright as well."
HUGE! HUMIDOR unleashes with a booming finish to win the Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes. That was arrogant. #RacingLivepic.twitter.com/LIHgz3u1ZK
— Racing.com (@Racing) September 16, 2017
