Emperorofthecats powers to victory in feature

EMPEROROFTHECATS fended off a wall of horses from start to finish, landing yesterday’s Charles Hussey Trophy by a length over his favoured straight course.

Partnered by Shane Ellis, classic-placed EMPEROROFTHECATS remained unbeaten over the straight course, clocking 59.0 ahead of United States-bred THE GOOD WITCH, who poked her head late between BATON ROUGE and JOHNCROWJEFF at odds of 14-1.

Sent off at near-even-money odds of 4-5, EMPEROROFTHECATS used his class to first dismiss SUPER DUPER before staying on from a cavalry charge of closers, who finished in a bang-up for the minor placings.

Dane Dawkins maintained a four-win lead, established on Saturday, over champion jockey Anthony Thomas after both rode two-timers on the nine-race card.

Thomas opened the programme with 4-5 favourite STORM VALLEY and followed up with POWER at 1-5 in the fifth.

Dawkins got rolling late, landing the seventh with 6-5 favourite KETURAH before producing WHISKY with a late run to win the ninth at odds of 7-2.

Racing continues on Saturday.