Three weeks after winning in Benchmark 88 grade at Randwick, Kiwi-bred gelding Bold Mac stepped up in class and delivered a repeat result in Saturday's Premier's Cup Prelude (1800m) at Rosehill.
The six-year-old completed a winning double on the opening Saturday of the Sydney season for champion expat New Zealand trainer Chris Waller, who had previously saddled Ivan's Hero to win the Vale John Duggan Handicap (1400m) earlier in the afternoon.
After settling in midfield, Bold Mac's big white blaze quickly became prominent rounding the home turn as jockey Kerrin McEvoy brought him out three wide to lodge his claim. He worked through his gears and soon wore down the front-running Mach Schnell, taking command with 250m remaining.
But his job wasn't over yet, with favourite Fawkner Park running on strongly wider out on the track and rapidly eating into his advantage. Bold Mac kept kicking however, and held out his challenger in a tight finish.
“He's a lovely old horse,” McEvoy said. “He's a dream to ride and he just loves his racing. He's in a good frame of mind.
“He stepped out well today. I just put him in a bit of a spot and then gave him a bit of a rest when we got that spot. I had him up and going around the corner, and he was genuine down the straight. He's having a nice prep, and that was a good effort there today.”
Bold Mac has shown a particular affinity for Rosehill, where his seven starts have now produced three wins and three placings.
“He loves it here and he's just a tough old warhorse,” Waller said. “He pays the bills and gives the owners a lot of fun, and he's a good horse to follow.
“Kerrin gave him a beautiful ride. He was in winning form last start and did the same thing again today.”
The winner of three of his nine starts in New Zealand prior to joining Waller, Bold Mac was bred by Bernie Gudsell, who races the gelding with members of his extended family plus his original trainer Colin Cromarty.
Now the winner of seven of his 25 lifetime starts with a further seven placings, Bold Mac has banked $495,394 in prize-money.
Bold Mac's sire The Bold One is an impeccably bred son of Fastnet Rock and Group One winner The Jewel and stands at Grangewilliam Stud for a fee of $4,000 plus GST.
The dam of Bold Mac is the useful racemare Mrs Mac, a half-sister to seven-race winner Zumba.