When a legend like Larry Cassidy has a high opinion of a horse, you stand up and take notice.
Too bad for many punters, they weren't aware of the champion hoop's appraisal for Fashion Legend.
Cassidy was thrilled with the three-year-old's performance after he rode him in work leading up to the $300,000 Magic Millions Vo Rogue Plate (1350m) at Doomben on Saturday.
Indeed, the gelding delivered with a narrow victory in the Group 3 feature sprint.
2022 Group 3 Vo Rogue Plate Replay – Fashion Legend
Richard and Will Freedman's stable representative in Queensland, Brian Smith, saw how good the $18 outsider performed during trackwork.
And he too had a feeling he would perform on Saturday, before he went on to beat the heavily-backed Count Da Beans ($2.20) and Stroll ($3.10).
Those fancies finished second and third, respectively.
“Larry rode him in work and said ‘I can't believe how this horse has come ahead',” Smith told Sky Racing.
“They (the Freedmans) got the money and they should be happy.”
Smith said his developing young sprinter can only continue getting better after notching up his third consecutive triumph.
“He's an improving little horse and he's going to improve a lot from that,” he said.
“Ben said ‘I'll have to take him by the scruff of the neck'.”
More Australian horse racing news