It is a distance normally reserved for fast class horses, as evidenced by the 2520m track record belonging to Dinki Di. With Mark Butler in the gig the Fake Left colt rated a 1:57.8 in the Shirley Turnbull Memorial back on December 28, 2005.

However, on Wednesday night C3 to C4 horses got their chance over the longer distance in the Lion Nathan Pace and given the way Trevor-Jones’ Metaphor finished, he will be hoping for more 2520m contests in the near future.

Trevor-Jones’ six-year-old gelding added to his solid career record with the victory, making it 10 wins and the same amount of placings from 30 starts.

“It’s a terrific record, 50/50 is really good,” Trevor-Jones of Metaphor’s strike rate.

“He’s had a few hiccups along the way and hasn’t had a lot of racing, but hopefully he will kick on.”

Metaphor got away well from barrier four and went looking for the lead, but was unable to get it as Amanda Turnbull took advantage of Bolterfromthebush going from inside the front row.

Trevor-Jones temporarily sat outside the leader but dropped back to fifth as firstly Whatwouldyoudo then Tooth Under Fire made three wide moves and settled in the death seat.

With $3.10 favourite Bolterfromthe-bush travelling well in the lead, guiding the field through a 62.9 seconds first half, it may have seemed like Metaphor’s chances of success had faded. That was not to be the case.

On the bell Bolterfromthebush held a three-quarters of a length lead over over Tooth Under Fire, Zinzan Brook was enjoying a nice journey in the trail and Whatwouldyoudo sat one out and one back.

The pace quickened down the back with a 29.3 seconds third quarter and with 250m to run Metaphor made his move, punching forward three wide.

There was to be no all the way win for Bolterfromthebush, Metaphor ($3.80) finishing strongly to take the win by a neck in a 2:04.4 mile rate.

Third, a further 33/4m back belonged to Jason Hewitt with Canasta Shannon ($5.30), but the four-year-old mare could have finished closer if she did not get held up by Zinzan Brook at a crucial stage.