Nash Rawiller dropped the whip on Coterie, but had plenty in hand to finish over the top of Gwenda Markwell's Gemmahra at Warwick Farm on Wednesday.
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However, the region's leading trainer will turn her attention to delivering on the potential of first preparation horses at Kembla Grange on Thursday.
Three-year-old filly was eighth when jumping at $151 in her first start, but showed she has promise by weaving through the traffic in the straight to be within two lengths of winner Harlem Luya and has been listed at $13 when stepping up from 1200m to 1300m.
Markwell also has All Too Hard filly Water Dancer in the same event, while three-year-old gelding Spectrometer has his first look at race day over 1000m, after winning a trial at Kembla Grange and being urged along for third at Warwick Farm earlier this month.
Gemmahra was stirred up in the parade, before leading into the straight and being overwehelmed by the Gerald Ryan-trained Coterie.
"I've trialled him quite a bit in is last preparation and I was lucky enough to win there at Kembla Grange (BOBS Platinum Class 2 in January)," Rawiller said.
"He's had his two runs back and he's nice and fit and well, you don't want to hit the front too soon, which was my only concern.
"But I knew I didn't need the whip to win it, he's pull it off under hands and heels."
The Robert and Luke Price trained Power Rush will attempt to build on his win at Moruya last month - having since finished fifth at Kensington - in a 1000m Benchmark 64 on Thursday.
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Tim Barrow
When it comes to sport - at professional and community level - in the Illawarra, I'm here to provide insight, context and opinion, as well as the latest news you won't find anywhere else.
When it comes to sport - at professional and community level - in the Illawarra, I'm here to provide insight, context and opinion, as well as the latest news you won't find anywhere else.
