Gear change gives Rustic Steel winning edge in Ladies Day Cup

Rustic Steel has stamped his class on the Ladies Day Cup at Hawkesbury, reacting to a key gear change to deliver trainer Kris Lees his first win in the Listed feature.

Successful in the Group 3 Newcastle Stakes (1400m) during the autumn, the seven-year-old had resumed with an encouraging midfield effort in the Bill Ritchie Handicap (1400m) in September before enduring a torrid run when down the track in the Alan Brown Stakes (1400m).

Lees decided to put blinkers back on Rustic Steel for his step up to a mile in Thursday’s assignment and it proved a winning move.

“It was a really nice ride from Josh Parr. He put him in a really nice position in the early stages,” Lees’ stable representative Danny Greer said.

“With Kris putting the blinkers back on, he showed a bit more toe early and put himself in a nice spot.

“We were quietly confident leading into this. His work has been really good at back home and we can’t fault him in anything like that and he had no luck last start at Rosehill.”

Rustic Steel ($14) assumed a beautiful trailing position for Josh Parr and let down strongly when asked for an effort in the straight to overhaul Bandersnatch ($7.50) by a length.

Berkshire Shadow ($6) was another short head away third, just in front of leader Felix Majestic ($7.50) in a competitive tussle for the minors.

It was Parr’s his fourth win in the race following back-to-back victories aboard Tromso and Strawberry Boy in 2014-15 and New Mandate 12 months ago and he felt Rustic Steel’s class was telling.

“I think the class was a big part of his victory here today, and obviously the great gear change with the blinkers going back on,” Parr said.

“We landed in a perfect position, and he showed a really good turn of foot when I let him loose. He showed a bit of ticker too to hold off his rivals.”

Robusto was sent out a $5 betting app favourite and made late headway to finish sixth without seriously threatening.