Golden Sand Steed times run to perfection

Earlier in the afternoon, GOLDEN SAND STEED showed us once again why he cannot be ignored in a Polytrack race when he powered home like a freight train gone wild to land the $100,000 Japan Racing Association Trophy.

Partnered by R Shafiq, who must be credited with riding a well-judged race, the Mark Walker-trained sprinter was unsighted in the early stages - preferring to stay in midfield as Petrenui and Italian Job eyeballed each other all the way down the back stretch and into the straight.

Petrenui was a spent force halfway down the final stretch and Italian Job was shouted the winner.

However, racing five-wide, Golden Sand Steed then made his move. While many felt he had given Italian Job too big a lead, Shafiq knew otherwise.

Timing his run to perfection, he collared the $7 favourite in the shades of the winning post to win by a neck.

Somewhat neglected in the betting, Golden Sand Steed paid $69 for the win.

Italian Job, the mount of Ivaldo Santana, took second with Barend Vorster's Let's See Action filling that other minor placing.