Chateau Cugat was asked to do plenty of work in the 2-year-old event at Avondale yesterday and responded gallantly.
The bold-striding son of King Cugat had to lump the topweight of 57kg in the 1200m event and waged a stride-for-stride battle with Lady Classique over the closing 100m to win
by a nose.
A further short neck away in third position was Trudy Tee.
The New Zealand Bloodstock event was cut out in 1.10.57 after Chateau Cugat, who had been sitting in third position, came sweeping forward wide out in the home stretch to challenge the leaders.
The colt has been an impressive performer for the Cambridge-based husband and wife training combination of Chris and Colleen Wood, scoring two wins and a fourth from three starts.
In the next event, Platitude led throughout in the hands of Catherine Treymane to score a three-length victory over Ourquest and Figureoh.
The 4-year-old Bahhare-sired mare started a hot favourite in the event, despite having her first race start after a six-month spell from racing, and was turned out in superb order by Ruakaka trainers Donna and Dean Logan.
The pair struck again late in the day when Stabinthedark posted a game 3/4 length victory over Gallions Reach with a further 1 1/2 lengths back to Lunaroso (third).
Stabinthedark made it back-to-back wins after an impressive maiden victory on his home track earlier this month.
