The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained Stampede followed his win in the recent Wagga Wagga Gold Cup (Listed, 2000m) with another good front-running win here. He came across steadily from his wide barrier (12) to cross to the lead shortly after passing the winning post for the first time. His rider Kerrin McEvoy lifted the tempo nearing the 600m and Stampede then kept fighting back gamely for a really good win. The Mick Price-trained The Chairman was a handy third before putting pressure on the leader coming to the home turn and continued to battle gamely for a good second, just finding the winner (whom conceded him 2kg) too good. The New Zealand-trained Chocante raced in fourth place, went to third at the home turn and held on well to take the minor placing in a sound effort at his first Australian start.