Making his first start since October last year, the 5yo Commands gelding Oak Door ran down a gallant Jungle Edge in Saturday's Group III Sir John Monash Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield.
Carrying the confidence of the John Sadler stable starting at 30/1, Oak Door under Ben Melham was kept within Striking distance of the freewheeling Jungle Edge (Dubawi) but it took him the length of the straight to edge past the $1.4 million earner by a head with Princess of Queens (Magnus) one length back in third in what may be her last run before visiting I Am Invincible. (images Grant Courtney )
Oak Door had won just once since capturing the Group II Autumn Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield as a 3yo back in January 2017.
His second stakes success advances his record to 6 wins, 3 seconds and 2 thirds from 23 starts with earnings of $423,740.
"We were very confident, he only worry was he hasn't raced for so long, "stable representative Ernie Marchant said.
"I said to Ben earlier that the race would map out perfectly, the toppy will lead and you'll get a perfect run across, he loves the going but will be vulnerable late, give him a Benny Melham special and he'll get the money.
"I'm so excited for the owners they have been so patient and what a training effort on John's behalf.
He is only going to get better from here, we are going have to manage him, obviously but that was a fantastic effort after such a long time off."
A $350,000 purchase by Aquanita Racing from the Raheen Stud draft at the 2015 Gold Coast Yearling Sale, Oak Door was the second most expensive yearling by his sire that year.
He is the second live foal and second winner out the smart racemare Beyonce's Star (Orientate) whose five wins include the Listed BRC Just Now Handicap.
Beyonce's Star's granddam Solo Performance (Without Fear) won the Group III Merson Cooper Stakes and was runner-up in the Group I Blue Diamond Stakes.
Beyonce's Star has a yearling colt and weanling colt by Sebring and was covered by Zoustar last spring.
