There was an element of gamble about Sacred Star being allowed to start in Saturday's $100,000 Darley Plate, and it paid off handsomely.
The topline sprinter had his main summer missions ruined by rain and overwatering and Tony Pike took a punt when Ellerslie looked like being borderline on Saturday morning.
But Ellerslie raced magnificently all day and although Sacred Star missed the big money on three occasions through moisture, this was a reasonably good consolation.
He mastered 3kg clear topweight of 59kg with class and beat a game Red Striker, who didn't help her chances with a slow start. Red Striker also had to switch around several pairs of heels in the home straight to find clear air ahead.
Pike said Sacred Star will be aimed at a further Queensland campaign. "There is nothing left for him in New Zealand this season and he's probably not quite good enough to tackle the sprinters in Sydney ..."