Once considered little more than an honest toiler for Godolphin, the most likeable Street Cry (IRE) gelding Trekking scaled the heights in Saturday's $1,500,000 Group 1 TAB Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) at Eagle Farm.
He gave Kerrin McEvoy a second Group 1 winner on the day after the Fastnet Rock colt Prince Fawaz claimed the JJ Atkins Stakes.
Given plenty of time to find his feet, Trekking (image Steve Hart) came from a little worse than midfield and when brought out to the centre of the track he was a menacing presence at the 300 with McEvoy having a handful of horse.
Given his head, Trekking put the race to bed in a matter of strides, defeating Tyzone by one and three-quarter lengths with Endless Drama (IRE) (Lope De Vega) one and a quarter lengths back in third. (image Racing Queensland)
McEvoy said he was full of confidence in the run.
"He's such a genuine racehorse and it's a huge thrill to do it in the Godolphin colours. All credit to James (Cummings) and the team, we knew back to handicap conditions would suit him and it did.
"He travelled like a dream throughout, he always tries but today the way he picked up was exceptional."
Winning trainer James Cummings said he was thrilled to win a Group 1 on the same day that his father Anthony.
"If anyone has any idea on how to program a horse look how he (Anthony Cummings) programmed Prince Fawaz," James Cummings said.
"Learning from Dad, learning from Bart (Cummings) it's been an amazing education for me and I'm thrilled to win a Group 1 on the same day as Dad, it's pretty special for the family.
"It's a massive effort from Trekking, he's had a huge preparation, but we just had him bang on this week and while you can't ever think you have a race like The Stradbroke in the bag, he was on.
"I love handicap's and to see him cruise up and win in pretty painless fashion was brilliant and I couldn't be more pleased with that.
"When I ran the horse in the Kingsford-Smith Cup a fortnight ago it was more to get him a look at the track because it is so different to what he's experienced in Sydney and that paid dividends today.
"Huge thanks to the travelling stable Nacim Dilmi, Reg Fleming all the guys that ride the work hose down the horses their efforts are unbelievable, they're at the coalface and make this happen."
With his fourth stakes win and first at the highest level, Trekking advances his record to 8 wins, 2 seconds and 3 thirds from 20 starts with earnings of $1,540,495.
Bred by Darley, Trekking is the first foal of the 3-time winning Redoute's Choice mare Outdoor who was a daughter of the Champion 3YO filly in Australia in 2006, Serenade Rose.
A daughter of Stravinsky (USA), Serenade Rose won the Group 1 VRC Oaks, Group 1 AJC Australian Oaks and Group 1 STC Arrowfield Stud Stakes.
She had just three foals before her death in November 2011.
Outdoor has a 2yo Lonhro colt named Jetski who finished third at Hawkesbury on March 20. Not served in 2016, Outdoor had a Street Boss (USA) foal last spring that was destroyed after birth.
Outdoor was bred back to Ribchester (IRE) last spring.
