Sebastian The Fox appreciated the drop in grade on a bigger track when he scored at Benalla on Monday.
Ridden by Brad Rawiller, the gelding had a charmed run just off the pace and sprinted through on the rails entering the home straight to land the Ryan & McNulty Sawmillers BM58 Hcp (1406m).
Brad said he expected Sebastian The Fox to be hard to beat after finishing a close fourth on him in a stronger race at Ballarat on September 22 but admitted he had some reservations after the five-year-old was unplaced at Kyneton last start.
“You can’t help looking at his Kyneton race where he seemed get lost chasing but, on his Ballarat run I came here expecting him to be hard to beat,” Brad said.
Trainer Vincent Malady said the slow tempo on the tight track worked against the five-year-old when he finished seventh in the Kyneton BM64 event.
“He was back in class today with a more genuine pace on a bigger track and Brad was able to have him in a lovely position,” Vincent said.
After bursting to the lead passing the 200m, Sebastian The Fox ($6) held off the fast finishing $3.10 favourite Dirty Grin to score by a head with Cuffe’s Grange ($3.60) another 1-1/4 lengths away third.
“He gave a good kick when we needed it and deserved the win,” Brad said. “He will get a lot of confidence from it.”