IT wasn't pretty, but it was brave and it led to a moment that David Miles clearly enjoyed - laying his hands on the Gold Chalice trophy.
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The Monegeetta trainer-driver was full of praise for Focus Stride ($26) as he sprung an upset in the Group 1 final of the three-year-old colts and geldings decider on Saturday night at the Bathurst Paceway.
It was not the first time Focus Stride had contested a Group 1 decider, but it was the first since he had been gelded and it made a world of difference.
As a two-year-old he had run 10th in the Vic Bred Final and ninth in the Breeders Crown Final, but as a three-year-old Focus Stride has now six consecutive victories.
"He was super brave, it probably wasn't the prettiest of drives, but I had plenty of faith in him. He's been getting better and better this preparation," Miles said of the the Art Major x Sparkling Stride gelding.
"I think it's no secret he made a lot of mistakes last year.
"He probably should have won the [Gold Crown] consolation here but made a mistake the first corner.
"In the Breeders Crown last year down in Melbourne, he was phenomenal but made a mistake in the first corner. We gelded him and it made all the difference."
While Focus Stride had been in good form for Miles, it was Anthony Butt's Perfect Stride who was the hot $1.33 favourite for the 2,260 metres final.
Perfect Stride had to hustle through from his barrier one draw to hold the lead.
Miles opted out of that early speed battle, but soon hunted Focus Stride up into the death seat.
Mach Dan (Luke McCarthy) made a surge down the back straight, moving three-wide to sit outside Focus Stride, but then dropped back.
Perfect Stride led into the home straight, but in the last 60m Focus Stride unleashed to spring an upset.
He won by 1.5m over the favourite in a 1:55.6 mile rate, while Fire And Sword ($71) was a further 6.3m back in third.
"Luke made it interesting there down the back when he put it to us, put us to the sword. But to my bloke's credit he was super brave," Miles said.
"He's still got a bit to learn, he's still a bit green still runs around a little bit and ducked in on top of the leader's wheel turning for home.
"But once we straightened up and got the ear plugs out of him, away he went."
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