Harlem is likely to go straight to the Caulfield Cup following his dominant win in Saturday's Group III MRC Foundation Cup (2000m) at Caulfield.
Given the run of the race by Dwayne Dunn, smothered away fifth along the rail as Stampede set a solid tempo, Harlem ($11 - $16) was out to challenge off the last bend and he let down with a big finish to sprint clear with 150m to travel.
Harlem was allowed to coast home and was untroubled to defeat stablemate Samovare ($7.50) by 3 1/4-lengths with Stampede ($4.40 eq fav) staying on for third, a short half head away.
Last year's winner of the race, better known as the Naturalism Stakes, was Jameka who went on to land the Caulfield Cup and co-trainer Ben Hayes said Harlem is likely to go straight to the $3 million handicap next month.
"We've always liked him and everything went right today, he got a terrific ride from Dwayne," Hayes, who trains Harlem in partnership with his father David and Tom Dabernig, said.
"We were a little bit worried about drawing one but it all went to plan."
Hayes said the training partners will assess how the six-year-old entire comes through the race but will likely go straight to the Caulfield Cup.
"We'll see how he is out of this but I'd say he'll probably go straight to the Caulfield Cup and then to the Melbourne Cup," Hayes said.
"His European form was on firm ground and over further than today so he's an exciting horse for the future."
Dunn said he had a great run on the son of Champs Elysees.
"I just got the perfect run - he travelled up good and relaxed for me once we got over the hill," Dunn said.
"He's a typical import and he'll only get better I think. Now he's fully acclimatised he's on to the Caulfield Cup."
HARLEM absolutely blitzes the field in the MRC Foundation Cup. Bring on the #CaulfieldCup! #RacingLivepic.twitter.com/VlmEFpMCja
— Racing.com (@Racing) September 23, 2017
