It must be said that the Group III Colin Stephen Quality (2400m) at Rosehill Gardens contained the list of the usual suspects with only the French import Darabad (FR) needing to make an introduction in the parade ring.
The first three home in the Newcastle Cup Broadside, Auvray (FR) and Admiral Jello again fought out a thrilling finish here with Auvray (FR) gaining revenge with a short-head win over Admiral Jello with the Newcastle Cup winner Broadside a half-neck back in third. (photo Steve Hart)
A protest by Corey Brown on the runner-up against the winner was dismissed.
Winner of the Group II Prix Chaudenay at Longchamp back in October 2014, Auvray made a long and fruitless trip to contest the Singapore Cup in February 2015 only to be scratched when he lashed out in the barriers.
He was then on a plane to Australia where it took him one and a half years and 15 starts to earn his first win in his adopted homeland.
The China Horse Club colour-bearer seems to have changed his form around under the tutelage of Richard Freedman, which was noted by winning rider Glyn Schofield.
"I had to produce him a lot earlier today because De I Cee wasn't really dragging me into it," he said.
"I needed to get rolling on him, which is really a fifty-fifty call because you're really not sure, with his past manners, whether he was going to put the effort in but he certainly did today.
"Richard has done wonders with this fellow, he's been an enigma to train and ride but of late he really has had his mind on the job so full credit to Richard and the team.
A son of Noverre's French Derby winner Le Havre (IRE), Auvray is out of the In The Wings mare Ameyrah, who is a three-quarter sister to multiple Group I winner Adlerflug.
