“At the 200m when I blended into it I thought he was nearly going to win but just found a couple better there,” Clipperton said. “We came here to get a big cheque and that is what he got, and he will improve.”

El Castello sends Gloaming warning

Anthony Cummings thinks El Castello is ready to get “in his wheelhouse” in the Spring Champion Stakes and the Victoria Derby after his convincing win in the Gloaming Stakes at Rosehill on Saturday.

El Castello is unbeaten in three runs this campaign, which has been focused on the classic staying tests since it began last month.

“Up until now he has just been looking to get out in trip, and we are about to see how good he is in his wheelhouse at 2000m and beyond,” Cummings said.

“I think he gets better again at 2000m, and I think he’ll get better again given that we go to Melbourne.”

Josh Parr put El Castello in a perfect position in the running line a couple of lengths from the lead, and when he asked him to accelerate the race was quickly over. El Castello ($6.50) opened up to win by a length from favourite Swiftfalcon ($2.60), which got well back in the field and charged home, with Firm Agreement ($26) a short head back in third.

“It was the first time he put a field away. He’s usually hanging around waiting for something to challenge him,” Cummings said.

“It didn’t work out exactly as we thought it might, but nevertheless he was in the right position and able to show that he’s a really good stayer in the making.”

Jay Ford said Swiftfalcon, which remained the $2.60 Spring Champion favourite, simply had given up too much start because he had drawn wide.

“He was a victim of the gate and the race got away on us a little bit. Nothing to take us into it, but he closed off really well,” Ford said.

Attrition repays Mertens’ faith

It had been a year since Attrition became a group 1 winner and a year since he had won, but jockey Beau Mertens never lost faith and it was rewarded in the Hill Stakes at Rosehill.

Attrition arrived in Sydney last year after winning the Toorak Handicap and was set to test himself in the Golden Eagle before being scratched, and nothing much has gone right since.

Further setbacks followed but in his first unbroken preparation since last spring Attrition returned to best and was too strong in the Hill Stakes.

“It’s been a long journey, obviously a year to the day since winning the Toorak. We’ve been on a ride,” Mertens said.

“He’s been unbelievable for my career, this horse. I’ve stuck by him where he’s put in a few bad ones, but I’ve always had faith that he could come back. And for him to do that, first time stepping up to 1900m, just unbelievable.”

Attrition ($26) was first to chase leader Royal Patronage ($3.90 favourite) and kicked clear before holding off a late challenge Kovalica ($4.40) to score by a long neck, with the favourite sticking on for third.