Prolific Tasmanian winner The Inevitable has staked his claim for the $7.5 million Golden Eagle in emphatic style with victory in the major lead-up race at Randwick.
The first three in Saturday's $500,000 Silver Eagle (1400m) are assured a start in the 1500m finale at Rosehill in three weeks and the market choices were pretty right.
Although he was the smallest horse in the field, The Inevitable's big reputation meant he started the $3 favourite.
He charged home under Nash Rawiller to beat Fasika ($3.30) by a half neck with Mizzy ($6.50) another 1-3/4 lengths third.
Trainer Scott Brunton had a few transport hassles getting the pint-sized gelding to Sydney but the gelding showed no effects of the road travel, recording his eighth win from 10 starts.
"He's a really good horse on the way up and he beat some good horses today," Brunton said
"I spent the first 12 months of having him in my life whingeing about him.
"But he's just a phenomenal racehorse with a great will to win.
"He's a great walker, great mover. Just shows you it doesn't matter what shape or size they come in. If they move right and look well they can run.
"He's got a lot of water to go under the bridge. There are some serious racehorses next run. I'm very grateful to be there and a part of it if he pulls up well.".
"We'll dare to dream. We will have to go up against the real deal.
"It's just great to get the job done. It's a long way to come to get beat."
Rawiller struggled to find the words to describe The Inevitable.
"For his size, his stride is twice as long as you expect it to be. He just covers the ground," he said.
"He's just one out of the box.
"He's half the size of the others and he's got a stride like a big horse."
Arcadia Queen remains the $3 favourite for the Golden Eagle with The Inevitable firming from $15 to $9 and Fasika from $26 to $13.