Power Trip and Craig Williams scored a narrow win in the Group 3 Maribyrnong Plate (1000m) at Flemington on Saturday.

The Hard Sun two-year-old gained the win the hard way with the small field of seven splitting after the start with Williams going to the stand side with two others and the rest heading to the rails side.

Williams set a good pace with Power Trip on the Soft 7 track and they were leading with 400m to run with Valliano and Dwayne Dunn in second behind them. Over on the other side War Hero and Blake Shinn were in third.

However the track started to its toll on the juveniles and both Valliano and War Hero faded. Power Trip was left out in front alone for a long way. On the other side Flying Artie and Dale Smith made good progress and Gloriette and James McDonald came from the rear.

At the line Power Trip was just in front and took the race with a short half-head margin over the game Flying Artie and Smith with Gloriette and McDonald third, the margin 1L. War Hero was fourth 2 1/4L away.

The time was 58.84 on the Soft 7 track with the final 600m in 34.53. Power Trip paid $7.80 on the tote and $7.60 on fixed odds.

McArdle said he expected Power Trip would now be aimed towards next year’s Group 1 juvenile double of the Blue Diamond Stakes at Caulfield and the Golden Slipper at Rosehill.

“We have had a few offers for him and they got up to $400,000 on Monday and the owners said they wanted to race him on Saturday and I think they are vindicated now,” McArdle said.

“The owners Barry and Helen Mcilwaine have put a lot into racing and they have some nice horses coming through but this is their first Stakes winner so I would be surprised if he isn’t staying with me.

“He will go to the paddock now for a couple of weeks and then we will see if he is up to races like the Blue Diamond and Golden Slipper in the autumn,” he said.

McDonald felt the minor placegetters were in the inferior part of the track.