Chris Waller-trained Irish-bred import Zourkhan has now raced six times for two wins, scoring his first win in Australia here looking very much a stayer with further potential. He settled back in eighth place in the ten-horse field before improving (wide with cover) from the 800m. He went to third at the home turn, finished strongly to hit the lead passing the 100m and then went on to score comfortably, running the 2200m out well. Chris Waller-trained stablemate, the three-year-old El Novio was a handy fifth before moving up to second nearing the home turn. He challenged at the 200m and kept fighting on well to take second. Zatopaz went to the front, grabbed a good break coming to the 600m and held that advantage until the 100m before holding on to take the minor placing after running a bold race.