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US-bred five-year-old Threeandfourpence emerged a narrow winner in a stirring blanket finish to the $85,000 Macau Jockey Club Trophy (1600m) on Sunday.

Well backed into $19, the son of War Front owed much of that hard-fought win to a well-judged ride by Michael Rodd to just hold off the fast-finishing Augustus (Juan Paul van der Merwe) by a pimple.

Threeandfourpence actually came from further afield than the Mark Walker-trained longshot in the early stages of the race, but got on his bike earlier, tracking favourite Vittoria Perfetta's (Vlad Duric) every move into the home straight.

Taking a slender advantage over Vittoria Perfetta at the 250m, a combative Threeandfourpence stuck to his task tenaciously before winning the bob by a nose from Augustus in a heads-up, heads-down go to the line.

Vittoria Perfetta lost no marks, holding on for third place another half-length away. The winning time was 1min 34.53secs for the 1600m on the Long Course.

Rodd, who has partnered Threeandfourpence to six of his eight starts and has now ridden him to both his two wins, was a picture of sheer relief at the winner's stall.

"He's been very frustrating. It's just the way he races," said the Australian jockey.

"I rode him negative, but I was a bit worried when we went down the dip from the 600m to the 400m. Everybody has to go through the dip, but I was able to cut back in and save as much ground as possible behind Vittoria Perfetta.

"We let down with Vittoria Perfetta, but my bloke's got a short sharp sprint. Anything that gets there could get us, but luckily, he went all the way this time."

Winning trainer Cliff Brown put down the laboured strides inside the concluding stages to "fatigue" and expect the Forever Lucky Stable-owned gelding to strip fitter next time out.

"He's had a change in his work, but we were very happy with him coming into today's race," said the Australian conditioner.

"He needs speed 100% and there was plenty of pace in the race. He just got there but we'll take it.

"It was probably fatigue as he didn't run for a while. Full credit to him as I think he ran really well."

With that second win, Threeandfourpence, a globetrotting sort who came with a record of two wins from 10 previous starts across Europe, USA and Dubai, has now amassed close to $100,000 for the Forever Lucky Stable.