The Godolphin three-year-old fought off all challengers to salute in a photo finish from the charging Brad The Lad, with Molten three lengths away in third.

“It was a good tough win,” Buckley said.

“I probably wanted to be another couple of pairs back but I had to be happy where I was off the slow tempo.

“He finished off really nice. He is a nice horse.

“He is still thinking and still learning a little bit so he will improve on that.”

Connoisseur hit the front a long way from home after fighting off the challenge of Molten and only narrowly beat Kerry Parker’s gelding on the line.

Connoisseur now has two wins and three placings from seven starts.

Buckley had a double on the afternoon when he followed up Connoisseur’s victory with another success on Chris Waller trained Planet’s Princess in the Chrispy’s Angels Benchmark 61 Handicap (1400m).

Planet's Princess all prevailed by the barest of margins after Cop A Nip stormed from the back of the field to almost steal the prize.

Leading jockeys Jeff Penza and Mitchell Bell also rode winners in front of a healthy crowd.