Riff Rocket's rivals have two weeks to work out how to beat the gelding in the Group 1 Australian Guineas.
TAB has promoted Riff Rocket to the top of the Australian Guineas at $3.50 after easily disposing of his rivals in the Group 3 CS Hayes Stakes on Saturday.
The Chris Waller-trained three-year-old last raced over 2500m in the Victoria Derby in the spring, but he has had no trouble getting past his rivals under jockey Craig Williams to easily score over 1400m.
Williams said Riff Rocket ($7) still had something in the tank when he crossed the line three-quarters of a length ahead of King Colorado ($4) and Verdad ($7.50).
“For me, it's still raw,” Williams said.
“He still looks like he's swaying and floating even though he loves Flemington.
“The way he started his preparation we were as gentle with him as possible and to see him get the win.
“I'm sure Chris got him nice and ready today with the big weight so it doesn't hurt him too much.”
Riff Rocket emulated the actions of former star Mahogany, who came back from winning the 1993 Victoria Derby to win the CS Hayes Stakes in 1994 when the race was known as The Debonair.
Mahogany went on to win the Australian Guineas on his way to victory in the Australian Derby that year.
Waller's representative Charlie Duckworth said that Riff Rocket brought back a more intense enemy than the spring version of American Pharoah's Son.
“We haven't changed anything radically,” Duckworth said.
“We just went through the normal processes that we do with any horse, and he came back and matured a lot mentally and became sharper.
“Whatever he was doing in his trials, all the right judges were watching him and I think we will enjoy the win.
“It was a lot less stressful than the derby.”
Duckworth said Reeve Rockett would remain in Melbourne to prepare for the Australian Guineas at Flemington on March 2.
Talindert Stakes: The key to patient riding on an aardvark
Aardvark has been forced into at least the Blue Diamond Stakes conversation after a strong showing in Saturday's Listed Talindert Stakes (1100m) at Flemington.
The Capital colt, trained by Leon and Troy Corstens, was paid for the $2 million film on Saturday, but with a group of two-year-olds heading to Caulfield Aardvark, they could be saved for another day.
Exhausted before the race, the aardvark was sweating in the show ring and behind barriers, but the chestnut benefited from Damian Lynn's patient riding.
Lane chased the pace on the Aardvark and latched onto the race from 300 meters out to win by 1¼ lengths.
“In the end it was the right place and he integrated into the race at the right time,” Lane said.
Reasonable Point, trained by Ben Brisburn, finished strongly to snatch second place from the Corstens runner Petercreek.
The favored counterattack finished fourth.
Lane said the aardvark will benefit from the experience on Saturday.
“He may be far from the top graders right now, but he got really hot before the race and spent a lot of energy sweating and getting into a state of excitement,” Lin said.
“If he can get a better handle on his behavior before the race, and he can improve during the race, hopefully he can take the next step.
“I've tried this setup on him three times and his manners are improving. I hope he gets him in today.”
Aardvark shortened $101 to $34 with TAB for the Blue Diamond Stakes.
-Additional reporting by Gilbert Gardiner
Originally published as Riff Rocket is on a winning return in the CS Hayes Stakes to emerge as a horse to beat in the Australian Guineas
