Consistent four-year-old Great Shot exacted revenge when he emerged triumphant in the Listed Old Comrade Stakes (1600m) at Ascot on Saturday.
The Magnus gelding, trained by Rhys Radford and ridden by Craig Staples, stalked, Dezzies Dream, who surprisingly set up a fast pace in front.
Great Shot, who started at $5, powered to the front passing the 100m and shook off a determined Infathuated to score by a long-neck.
$2.80 favourite Man Booker was under pressure when approaching the home turn and battled away for third, 2 ¼ lengths from Great Shot.
The Dan Morton-trained gelding, who was chasing his fifth consecutive win this campaign, laboured under top weight of 60.5kg.
Great Shot, who from 17 starts has saluted on seven occasions for $426,550 in stakes, finally turned the tables on Man Booker.
After winning the Cyril Flower Stakes (1200m) first-up in February, Great Shot ran second to Man Booker in the Pinjarra Classic (1300m), Bunbury Stakes (1400m) and Grandstand Cup (1500m).
Staples said a step up in distance to 1600m was a pivotal factor in Great Shot getting the better of his nemesis.
“Man Booker has been on top of him, but I think he has been desperate to get over a mile,” Staples said.
“I think it’s his ideal distance and I’m hoping he can get out to 1800m.”
Radford said Great Shot, a $31,000 yearling, would now be spelled.
Meanwhile Morton, despite Man Booker’s loss, had something to cheer about earlier when promising filly Reveille landed an impressive victory in the J.J.Richards & Sons Handicap (1500m).
Ridden by Chris Parnham, Reveille, settled last and was the widest runner on straightening, but she unleashed a blistering finish to chase down A Knight Of Pro and score by ¾ of a length.
The daughter of High Chaparral, who firmed in betting from $3.90 into $2.90, has two wins and one second from three starts after breaking her maiden status at York.
“It was a pretty special win and dominant in the end,” said Morton.
“We are not getting ahead of ourselves, but if she keeps winning like that she will go a fair way.”
Julio Santarelli