Cellarmaster ($5.50) narrowly defeated Platinum Pantheon ($6.50) in a close finish, with Rustemo ($8.50) securing third place just over a length behind.
The winning dividend for Cellarmaster was $5.50, as race favourite Within The Law ($2.60), despite attracting significant market support, failed to perform as expected.
Within The Law, the $2.60 favourite and a stablemate of Thebudgiesmugla, settled behind the leaders and found an inside run on straightening, but lacked the finishing kick and laboured to sixth, beaten by more than three lengths.
Trainer Charlton stated that Cellarmaster was deserving of his maiden major race triumph.
“He enjoys being ridden a bit quieter, and we have learned that with him. It was a good performance,” Charlton said.
“I think he’ll keep improving, he’s definitely not the finished article. He’s a chance to run a bit further in time as well.”
Charlton recalled that after Cellarmaster’s third placing in Sydney’s Phar Lap Stakes during the autumn carnival, the decision was made to aim for the Gunsynd Classic at Eagle Farm, where he finished fifth behind the impressive Skyhook.
“We thought the Gunsynd was his sort of race, which it arguably was, but it was a bit stronger than normal because those horses like Skyhook didn’t get a run in the Stradbroke,” Charlton said.
“But this was a touch weaker.
“We’ll give him a break and think about what we do. He is Magic Millions eligible so whether we think late summer prep into the Magic Millions, or whether we give him a couple of weeks off and come into the spring, we need to figure that out.”
Looking ahead, Cellarmaster’s connections will consider targeting the Magic Millions series during a late summer preparation or opting for a spring campaign after a short spell.
Explore the best Australian betting sites for the next big race.