The stars finally aligned for Teofilo's son Humidor in Saturday's $1,500,000 Group 1 TAB Australian Cup (2000m) at Flemington.
The headstrong gelding had been his own worst
Given plenty of time to find his feet for Damian Lane, the Darren Weir-trained gelding came with his patented barnstorming finish to nail the gallant mare Jameka (Myboycharlie) who had fought off all challengers after hitting the lead at the top of the straight.
Lee and Anthony Freedman's imported galloper Exospheric (Beat Hollow) came from back in the field to grab third ahead of Humidor's stablemate Stratum Star (Stratum). (photo Grant Courtney).
All three placegetters will head to Sydney where Weir is still searching for his first winner.
"He came to us with quite a bit of gear on so obviously he's a bit tricky to ride but when we get these sort of horses, we just take all their gear off and start from scratch," Weir said.
"There was a temptation to put gear on him but I kept saying to myself, he can't be going any better than he's going so I just kept saying no to myself."
"The BMW over a mile and a half looks ideal."
Bred by Jomara Bloodstock, Humidor is out of winning Zabeel mare Zalika, who is the dam of four winners from five foals to race and a half-sister to Stakes winner Heart Ofthe Desert.
A $400,000 yearling, Zalika is a sister in blood to Group II winner Lafleur, the dam of stakes winner Papillio and Amaryllis.
Zalika is a granddaughter of the champion Habibti a half-sister to the great broodmare Eight Carat.
Zalika has a colt foal by Makfi and was covered by Shooting To Win last spring.
Humidor becomes the 12th Group 1 winner for his sire Teofilo, who returned to Darley Stud last spring after