Trainer Michael Costa was still celebrating the win of She Can Sing at Doomben when the Dream Ahead (USA) gelding Phobetor earned the trainer a career-high in the Group II Missile Stakes (1200m) at Randwick.
Tommy Berry settled the Ramornie Handicap runner-up in the box seat behind the leader Fasika. Phobetor bullied his way between Fasika and the sensationally backed Kolding to defeat the Deep Field gelding Chat by a half-length with the So You Think mare Fasika a half-length back in third.
With his maiden stakes success, Phobetor advances his record to seven wins and a second from 11 starts with earnings of $401,075.
Berry said that Costa was confident of Phobetor's chance in the Group II feature.
“He was under no illusion that he was coming up against some smart individuals, but he had the fitness edge on them, Berry said.
“Michael has placed this horse well, taking him through his grades and let him get plenty of confidence.
“In the Ramornie, he was slow away and three wide and was beaten by a horse (Southern Lad) who has been well performed here.”
Purchased by Michael Costa/New Breed Racing for $55,000 at the 2017 Magic Millions National Yearling Sale, Phobetor is the best of two winners from three to race out of the winning Dubai Destination (USA) mare Oneforall.
A $25,000 Magic Millions yearling, Oneforall is a half-sister to stakes-placed Palmera Lad (Tale of the Cat), out of the Zediatve mare Allfores, a sister to Group 1 Newmarket handicap winner Ruffles and 4-time Group II winner Ateates.
