The Rob Blacker-trained Tigertiger overcame a stubborn Skelm in a slogging finish to Flemington's $200,000 Listed Bagot Handicap (2800m) at Flemington on New Year's Day.
It was the third consecutive win for the 6yo son of Zed and the fourth in the last five starts.
Tigertiger has hit the board in all ten starts for Blacker since crossing the Tasman as an 11-start maiden.
With Daniel Moor in the saddle, Tigertiger charged up to Skelm and looked set for an easy win. But he found a willing opponent in the son of Animal Kingdon, who continued to rally before going down by a neck.
The 6yo Rock Of Gibraltar gelding Long Arm was a further two and a quarter lengths back in third.
“He was bred by my mate Adam Shaw’s father Ian who is a vet and trained over there,” Blacker said.
“Ian trained this horses mother and won a New Zealand Cup with her. He’s had good horses for years, he’s like 86 now.
“He had about four in work and we’d been watching horse race over there and saying ‘look at the action on this’.
“They were going to send him somewhere for a bit of education and I rang Adam and said get your dad to send him to me for education.
“It took a bit of negotiating. Ian’s a proper horseman, he’s trained stakes horses and he’s part of the family so to get them to trust me with their horse , I’m very very happy, very grateful.
“People say we’re a small stable. We’ve always got eight to 12 in work, and I’m going to the sales and paying five, six and twelve thousand for horses.
“I just go where I think they can win, though I’d much rather go to Sandown and Flemington.
“I’ll give him a break. I was always heading towards the Adelaide Cup, but now I’m sort of thinking that I’ll watch the replay and have a talk to Daniel.
“He’ll have a little breather, whether that’s a month or two or three weeks, and I head to Adelaide or not, I’ll work it out.
Tigertiger is the best of two winners from the Group II New Zealand Cup winner Hoorang (Zerpour).
From the great Sunbride family, Hoorang has a yearling colt by Power (GB) named Happy Hugo, and she was not covered last year.
Tigertiger becomes the 20th stakes-winner for Grangewilliam Stud’s overachieving Zabeel stallion Zed, so ably represented by the Melbourne Cup heroine Verry Elleegant.
