Bjorn Baker and Kerrin McEvoy would provide the encore to a frenetic Doomben 10,000 after Music Magnate defied a day of rails bias to descend on the group1 feature on Saturday in Brisbane.
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The four-year-old gelding ($11) loomed up off a barely conceivable speed to finish over the top in the 1350m feature and hold off second elect Azkadellia ($3.70), who turned in an impressive Stradbroke Handicap trial as she swept home from last.
Charlie Boy ($31) ran a vastly improved race to finish third but what happened at the start of the race was almost as pivotal as what happened at the end.
The riders of Hooked (Jim Byrne), Two Blue (Paul King) and Fell Swoop (Zac Burton) were called before stewards after they rattled off one of the fastest opening 750m stretches ever recorded at the track.
Not surprisingly, that trio tailed off and set it up for the backmarkers, with McEvoy parking his mount perfectly in midfield off the fence before peeling out with a perfectly timed run.
It would be Baker's first group1 as a solo trainer after he went out on his own from father Murray, while McEvoy continued his big winter in the Sunshine State, adding the 10,000 to his winning ride on Our Ivanhoe in last weekend's Doomben Cup.
Music Magnate has now been listed as an $8 chance for the Stradbroke at Eagle Farm in a fortnight, while Azkadellia lost few fans and remains the $4.40 favourite, with Ghisoni at $6.
"I got into a nice rhythm and they were going quick. I knew I'd be strong over the last part. He was a month in between runs going into his Scone run and they had him cherry ripe today. Well done to him and his team, he was too strong," McEvoy said.
Baker said the horse had endured his setbacks but they were always confident he could produce something special in group races.
"We've always had a lot of time for him. He's had one or two issues along the way but he's always shown a lot of ability. Great result for the team and the staff. Great to see him deliver at this level," Baker said.
"We might look at the Stradbroke. I'm quite enjoying these Queensland trips. Next time I might stay for longer. The one thing we did need was a group1 win."
The move back to Eagle Farm won't deter anyone who thinks Azkadellia can go one better in the biggest race of the carnival. The big track looks to suit her pattern perfectly, while the notion that some rain may finally appear in Brisbane would only help her cause.
Fell Swoop started favourite and battled on in the straight to finish sixth, an admirable effort given the speed battle in which Purton found himself caught soon after the jump.
Ghisoni's the one to beat: McDonald
James McDonald has declared filly Ghisoni is the horse to beat if she runs in the Stradbroke Handicap in a fortnight, after she toughed out a quality victory at Doomben on Saturday.
John O'Shea's rising star was forced to burn the candle from both ends over the 1350 metres of the Glenlogan Park Stakes, parking outside the pace on a hot speed before fending off the gutsy Cradle Me deep into the straight.
Dominant win: Ghisoni staked a claim for a place in the Stradbroke Handicap by taking the Group 3 Glenlogan Park Stakes at Doomben. Picture: Racing Queensland
The race was run in just under a second outside of the track record and McDonald was quick to suggest she was the horse to run down in the big winter feature, where she has been wound in to $7.50 from $11.
"She dug deep, she still had a bit left too ... She's definitely one to beat," McDonald said. "She's no ordinary filly. She's very special."
