KEY POINTS:
Leith Innes didn't believe in history repeating itself until he won yesterday's $150,000 Great Northern Guineas at Ellerslie aboard Santagostino.
From the 800m Innes wasn't thinking about Santagostino - he was recalling winning the Eight Carat Classic on the same programme a year ago on Santagostino's stablemate Shikoba.
"Eight hundred out on Shikoba I said to myself: 'How far does this win by?'
"I was saying the same thing to myself today.
"It was just so easy."
The No 2 barrier was always going to offer the possibility of a cosy run for Santagostino.
"We got a perfect run up behind the speed and the favourite took us into the race on the corner.
"I wish they were all that easy."
At the 550m Innes angled Santagostino to the outside of hot favourite Mettre En Jeu, who had claimed the weakening pacemaker Fantastic Dancer.
Mettre En Jeu fought hard, but Santagostino always had the drop on him and proved too strong.
The winner's stablemate Uberalles did extremely well to finish third for an inexperienced horse stepping from maiden class to group two in only a few weeks.
Uberalles is a daughter of Caulfield and Melbourne Cups winner Etherial and looks to have a big future.
Both fillies are owned by Peter and Philip Vela.
Trainer Mark Walker, never one to fizz on raceday, was delighted with the win and even more excited about Uberalles.
"That was a terrific run from the third horse - it was only her fourth race start and the winner had the perfect suck up behind the speed."
Asked where he imagined the two fillies will be in time Walker said: "Probably running in cups races as 4-year-olds."
Walker said he was not yet making a decision about a run for either filly in the Royal Stakes on Monday.
"I'll leave that for two or three days."
Santagostino turned around a five-length defeat by Mettre En Jeu at Ellerslie last Sunday.
Rider David Walker was disappointed in being narrowly beaten on Mettre En Jeu, but not with the horse.
"He didn't feel quite the same as he did last week.
"Perhaps that trip up from Wanganui last week and another one this morning has taken the edge off him.
"I think he's going to be a very good horse - maybe with another three months on him."
* Charliehorse may have been wayward as a 3-year-old last season, but his dashing first-up win at Ellerslie yesterday says he's well over that.
Charliehorse had to change ground sharply to find racing room in the home straight and did well to sprint clear when in the open.