Twilight Payment has triumphed over Latrobe to win the Group Two Curragh Cup and set up a possible tilt at the Melbourne Cup.
Latrobe, raced by Australian Lloyd Williams, won the 2018 Irish Derby and finished a close second in the Mackinnon Stakes at Flemington in November.
Trained by Jim Bolger, Twilight Payment led most of the way for Kevin Manning and held on to win the Curragh Cup (2400m) by a neck.
“He’s a great looker and he has the ability to match the looks,” Bolger said.
“We’ll aim him at the Irish Leger and he’ll probably go for the trial race before that.
“It’s amazing, he’s a six-year-old and he’s still improving.”
Irish bookmaker Paddy Power has introduced Twilight Payment as a 50-1 chance in its Melbourne Cup market.