Last year the race was won by the James Harron Bloodstock selected and syndicated colt Capitalist, who went on to win the Magic Millions 2YO Classic, Golden Slipper and claim the title of Champion 2YO.
This year it was charismatic Exceed and Excel colt Khan, who like Capitalist, is trained by Peter and Paul Snowden.
Khan (images Steve Hart) showed good ability when winning at the official two year-old trials last month and on raceday upped the ante to produce a sizzling display.
He jumped well from gate one for Blake Shinn and travelled smoothly midfield on
the fence before being angled into the clear down the running. Khan sprouted wings over the final furlong to charge home and catch the favourite Condor Heroes to win running away by more than a length.
"Full credit to Peter and Paul Snowden and their team and to James Harron for selecting another outstanding two year-old," said Blake Shinn.
A $260,000 Magic Millions purchase from the Glenlogan Park draft, Khan runs for a partnership of James Harron Bloodstock clients that will be celebrating tonight.
"We thought he would lack pace early but Blake (Shinn) rode him really well – he gave him time to find his feet," Peter Snowden said.
"I did think the winner had skipped away and had a winning break on him at the furlong but credit to the horse, he knuckled down nicely and hit the line very well.
"He's got a pedigree to suggest he will get a lot further. And he showed
today that the further he goes the better he will get."Bred by Glenlogan, Khan is the first winner for Mandawara (Fr), a half-sister by Daylami to triple Australian Group I winner Manighar (Fr).
His appearance is very similar to Exceed and Excel's triple Group I winner Helmet, who was also bred from an imported European mare with a big Black Type international family.
Khan made it a juvenile stakes double for Darley's flagship sire Exceed and Excel, who also landed the Listed ATC Gimcrack Stakes with the Godolphin homebred filly Jorda. Read about here here.
