The favoured Dundeel colt Red Aces was a late scratching in the Group III Sportsbet Classic (2000m) at Caulfield, but the Arrowfield stallion had another ace in Kingofwallstreet.
Ridden by Michael Dee for Matt Cumani, Kingofwallstreet broke his maiden at start three, but he was made to work for it.
In a farcically slow race, Kingofwallstreet and the Fastnet Rock gelding China Sea went to the line locked together, with the judge finding a nose margin for the son of Dundeel.
The favourite Keeneland (Almanzor) was a long-head back in third.
Kingofwallstreet earned his way to the VRC Derby at Flemington on November 2.
“It was crawl all the way around and I was very worried about it,” Cumani said.
“We thought that might happen. It happened last year as well and we wanted to try and be a bit closer this year, but Mick Dee rode him beautifully and great to get the win.
“He's a tough little horse and it's great to see him do well.”
“I think he'll relish the (Derby) trip. It was a good test today to see that he can break well and put himself in a decent spot. It was good to see him on some soft ground. I don't think we'll get that on Derby Day, but we could, and at least now we know he' s versatile.
“The Derby is a race we try and target.
“I was keen to come here after his last performance. It gave me the confidence to try something a bit harder. I thought there was no point in going for a maiden.
“We were worried because in his last start, they set a ferocious tempo up front and it sort of set up a little bit for him. He had to do the hard way coming around the whole field, but I thought today that we were going to go slower and it was going to be difficult, but Mick Dee had it under control and got going nice and early and it was terrific to see him do it off a slow pace as well and on this sort of ground. It means he' s quite versatile and very exciting going forward.”
Consigned by Rathmore Lodge to the 2023 Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale, Kingofwallstreet was a $120,0000 purchase for Cumani Racing/McKeever Bloodstock.
He is the fourth winner from as many to race for the unraced Fastnet Rock mare Our Girl Raquie.
A $120,000 buy for Avesta Bloodstock/Rathmore Bloodstock when carrying the Brave Smash filly Tara Rani at the 2020 National Broodmare Sale, Our Girl Raquie is a half-sister to Group III Newcastle Stakes winner Rustic Steel out of Ten Carat Rock, a sister to Sliding Cube, a three-quarter sister Redoute's Choice and Platinum Scissors, and a half to Manhattan Rain, Echoes Of Heaven and to the dam of Shoals.
Our Girl Raquie foaled a filly by Artorious on September 9.
Kingofwallstreet is the 31st stakes-winner for Dundeel.
