The judge needed a magnifying glass to determine the winner of Saturday's Group III Show County Quality (1200m) at Randwick and he found Godolphin's ultra-consistent Denman gelding Deprive had the narrowest of margins over More Than Ready's emerging sprinter Trope.
Given a gem of a ride by Rachel King, Deprive had a soft run behind the leaders before emerging at the right time to hold off the fast-finishing Trope by a nose with Bon Amis (Bon Hoffa) a short-head back in third in what proved a thriller. (image Steve Hart)
Winner of the Listed June Stakes at Randwick at his previous start, the 5yo James Cummings-trained gelding advanced his record to an impressive 7 wins, 1 second and 1 third from 10 starts with earnings of $443,530.
King said she had no idea if she had won.
"I couldn't see. The sun was glaring and I knew Trope was finishing really well," King said.
"He's just such a tough little horse. He was fit and ready to go and he's only going to improve.
"He had a good blow and he was just peaking on his run with 50 metres to go but he's just got the best attitude. He just wants to win.
"Hopefully he's a Group One horse and hopefully my name is next to his."
James Cummings said he will up his sites for the lightly raced 5yo who has won five races from as many starts at Randwick.
"We're tempted to try him in something in Melbourne like the (Group 1) Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes," Cummings said.
"He vindicated a couple of really solid performances in the winter.
"It was a nail biter. Trope is a pretty capable galloper with an impossible finish. We're honoured and a little flattered to have beaten him.
"Rachel was really confident in him and he has a really good winning attitude."
The Godolphin homebred is the best of two winners out of the Canny Lad mare Defrock who was sold by Darley to Middlebrook Thoroughbreds for $22,000 at the 2015 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale.
She is a sister to Blackhall who won the Up And Coming Stakes on this day in 2010.
Noogee Park consigned a Star Witness colt out of Defrock to this year's Inglis Classic Yearling Sale where he was knocked down to Yu Long Investments for $400,000.
From the family of triple Group II winner Hosannah, Defrock has a yearling colt by Foxwedge and was covered by Hellbent last spring.
Denman (Lonhro – Peach by Vain) will stand at Twin Hills Stud, Cootamundra for the 2019 season at a fee of $8,800 (inc GST).
