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Tearaway tactics backfired for the Gai Waterhouse purchase Porchinet when he failed in the $1.25 million Belmont Derby at his first start for the champion Sydney trainer in New York n Saturday.

Puchased last month in the UK by Waterhouse, the former French three-year-old Pornichet, donning blinkers for the first time, was a runaway leader through the first part of the turf race, opening up by as many as six lengths.

However he was a spent force by the home turn and beat only one horse to the wire. He was the first horse to race in the US under the Waterhouse name.

The early pace set the race up or late closer Mr Speaker to come from last for an upset win at odds of 23-1 over the favoured UK raider Adelaide.

Mr Speaker races Hall of Fame trainer Shug McGaughey but was overlooked after fading to finish a well-beaten last as the odds-on favorite in the Pennine Ridge Stakes at Belmont on May 26.

He was making his first start at 1 1/4 miles in the Belmont Derby, which was previously the Jamaica Handicap and was contested in the fall before this year.

"He definitely redeemed himself; his last race was very disappointing," said McGaughey.

"He trained well coming up to today and we changed our game plan; I wanted him ridden back.”

"Does he belong in the top layer of horses or not? I think today he proved he does.”

Adelaide, the 2-1 choice in the field of 10 sophomores, was shipped from Ireland by trainer Aidan O'Brien.

He was favored off a three-length G3 win at the Curragh in May and second to Eagle Top at Royal Ascot June 20 in the G2 King Edward VII

The latest win improved Mr Speaker's career line to 4-1-1 in nine starts with earnings of $945,880 thanks to Saturday's $670,000 winning prize. Mr Speaker is the first graded stakes winner from two foals to race for Salute, who was twice graded stakes-placed in her career.

French runner Gailo Chop was edged for third by Flamboyant.