Imported galloper Our Voodoo Prince earned himself a tilt at some of the big spring races after overcoming difficulties to win the group 3 Easter Cup (2000 metres) at Caulfield on Saturday.
The Chris Waller-trained six-year-old had to overcome a slow start and then an interrupted run, prompting rider James Winks to predict a rosy spring carnival for Our Voodoo Prince (pictured).
''I reckon in the spring you might see him up at that start for the Caulfield Cup,'' said Winks, nodding towards the top of the Caulfield straight.
Winks said his only concern before the race had been whether the slow track would take the zip out of Our Voodoo Prince's legs.
That was never a worry, but after the slow start he needed plenty of luck to gain clear galloping room in the straight.
''I just closed my eyes and hoped James would find a gap for him,'' said Waller's foreman Justine Hales.
Winks had to veer right and then left to find room but once he saw daylight, Our Voodoo Prince quickly put the race away.
After getting a break inside the 150-metre mark, Our Voodoo Prince ($2.30 favourite) scored by three-quarters-of-a-length from Akzar ($5.50), who followed him into the race, with Stipulate ($17) a further 1½ lengths away in third place.
Hales said Our Voodoo Prince was likely to head for a spell now after being undefeated in his three Australian starts. ''I think Chris is going to save him for the spring,'' she said. ''That's why we brought him here today. It's a good horse's race.''
The Andrew Noblet-trained Sistine Demon scored his best and possibly his easiest win in the other major race of the day, the group 3 Victoria Handicap (1400 metres).
Apprentice Jamie Kah pushed Sistine Demon forward from the outside gate to take up the running and the race was then as good as over.
Sistine Demon ($3.30 favourite) had all his rivals off the bit as they cornered for home and cruised to the line to win by six lengths from Gig ($11), who rattled through along the inside to grab second ahead of London Stripe ($81).
''He travelled super,'' said Kah, who rode her first winner two years ago on Easter Saturday. Sistine Demon has won seven of his past eight starts.
Noblet said he would see how the gelding came through the run before deciding his immediate future.
''We could look at Brisbane, but it makes the spring hard,'' he said.
After a win at Sandown last Wednesday, leading jockey Dwayne Dunn continued his comeback from a chronic back injury when he won the Hillier Handicap (1800 metres) aboard Happy As Hell ($13), but he admitted his future was still uncertain.
''On Wednesday night it was good, Thursday OK and Friday terrible,'' Dunn said of his back.
''It's one of those injuries. It could be the next race or 1000 races, so I will just play it by ear.''
