Punters and connections of 1-5 favourite Gallant Groom were given an early scare ahead of the third race when the four-year-old bay colt reared up inside stall number two, forcing jockey Tevin Foster to quickly unseat to avoid injury.
Thanks to swift intervention from the starting gate attendants, the situation was brought under control. Foster remounted, and the Jason DaCosta trainee was reloaded without further delay.
Facing four rivals in the six-furlong event, a contest designated for imported three-year-olds and up (non-winners of three) alongside local non-winners of four, Gallant Groom composed himself as the gates opened.
The race did not start entirely smoothly for the favourite. Stablemate Eye of the Tiger, ridden by Abigail Able, sprang forward early to capture a narrow lead. However, Gallant Groom soon found his stride and ranged up to challenge for the lead, though Eye of the Tiger refused to yield and pressed him aggressively throughout the middle stages.
The two stablemates turned into the homestretch locked in a tense duel. Eye of the Tiger kept up the pressure for the first furlong, but with a half-furlong remaining, Gallant Groom displayed his class.
Surging clear under Foster's drive, he pulled away to notch a three-length victory, stopping the clock at 1:13.0 after recording fractions of 23.4 and 48.0 seconds.
Eye of the Tiger stayed on gamely to secure the runner-up spot ahead of Hazelnut (Jaheim Anderson) in third.
The victory marked the second win from three local starts for the champion trainer's promising colt.
