Following an inch-perfect steer from Nash Rawiller, the Matthew Dunn-trained Cepheus managed to claim the Group 2 Shannon Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill.
The six-year-old gelding bought up a second win from his last six starts after saluting in the South Grafton Cup on July 9 when securing a spot in The Big Dance (1600m) on Melbourne Cup Day.
The son of Sea The Stars was having his 11th start of his campaign, but showed no signs of slowing down when hitting the line strongly under Rawiller.
After Cross Talk (+650) made it a genuinely run 1500m affair, Rawiller stalked the speed perfectly from barrier two and when asked to quicken, Cepheus ($4.20) managed to sprint the best and hold put a decent margin on Williamsburg (+850) and Waterford (+240) in behind him.
2023 Group 2 Shannon Stakes Replay – Cepheus | T: Matthew Dunn | J: Nash Rawiller
The win handed Matthew Dunn a training double on the day, but also a first win in the Shannon Stakes.
“We came into this race pretty confident he was ready to run well. He may have looked a little plain last start, that was more so a fitness issue than anything,” said Dunn.
“So we gave him an easy time after we'd qualified him for the Big Dance.
“He's on track (for the Big Dance). That's where he'll go now, the path we take. It's probably changed three times already and it will probably change again.
“Where we go to from here I'll let him tell us, but provided he comes though this run well that's his goal this prep and that's where we'll head.”
The win in the Shannon Stakes handed Nash Rawiller a race-to-race feature double after claiming the Group 2 Golden Pendant aboard Espiona.
“He gave me a bit of a hard time, from the time I got on him I don't know why he was really above himself,” said Rawiller.
“On his day he does special things like that, the trainer (Matthew Dunn) can do that too. He wanted to win this race and he's come and just blown them away.
“Great effort by the team there at Murwillumbah and he's a horse that's got good ability.”
Cepheus is now a $6 favourite with online bookmakers for the Big Dance on November 7.