Kinglike settled just behind the leaders (all the field racing on the rails side), about fifth, following a reasonable early pace (first 600m 35.12). He improved nicely at the 300m, challenged strongly at the 100m and finished too well to record a smart win. Raphael’s Cat shared the lead, being held together by Blake Shinn before dashed to a clear break nearing the 200m. He then fought on well for a good second at his first Melbourne start. Ready For Victory was ridden quietly by Damien Oliver and after a good beginning was eased to settle back in tenth place. He improved along the rails to be seventh at the 400m but was checked at the 200m, losing momentum. He got to fourth at the 200m and made late ground for third, looking somewhat unlucky. Puritan settled back in 11th place, racing a bit keenly behind runners. He angled into clear running at the 200m and ran on well to finish (3.8 lengths) fourth at only his second race start. It was a sudden step in class from winning a Maiden Handicap (1100m) at Pakenham on 30 August and he looks to be a three-year-old with a good future. Brockhoff raced close to the pace, just behind the leaders and kept battling on well to hold (4 lengths) fifth, going well at only his third race start. Reemah was back in second last place in the 12-horse field at the 400m and made good late ground for (4.1 lengths) sixth, in a promising second-up effort.