Luke Nolen aboard Westbrook Park after
Fancied pair November Dreaming and Balaabel were toppled as the Lindsay Park-prepared Westbrook Park graduated from a Cranbourne maiden win to score at The Valley on Saturday.
Ridden by Luke Nolen, Westbrook Park ($7.50) was afforded a soft trailing run in a slowly run 1600-metre race for three-year-olds at Benchmark 70 level, the first 1000m covered in 1:02.58.
Barend Vorster injected pace into the race, starting a four-wide run from the side of the track in the six-horse field aboard Balaabel ($2.80), which flushed out Linda Meech aboard November Dreaming ($2.60 favourite).
November Dreaming struck the lead around the home turn but was left a sitting shot, with Westbrook Park driving underneath to win by 2.25 lengths. November Dreaming finished second, with Maserartie Bay ($7) a further neck away in third as Balaabel faded into fourth.
WATCH: Westbrook Park win at The Valley
"I was always travelling well, I just needed an opening and we gained as we were cornering," Nolen said.
"He's progressive and has been well placed by the stable at this stage.
"He's got a lovely attitude and I find that sort of attitude takes horses a long way. I'll be happy to have something to do with him for sure."
David Hayes, who trains Westbrook Park in partnership with his son Ben and nephew Tom Dabernig, believes the son of More Than Ready will furnish into a 2000-metre horse later in his career and intends to extend his campaign over the summer period.
"These $125,000 races this time of year can't be ignored," Hayes said.
"When he won as $1.20 favourite at Cranbourne I was a bit disappointed with the run, it was a bit of a flat run. But today he was classy; he got a great ride from Luke (Nolen). It was great to see him win so easily.
"The way he raced in a relaxed manner and the way he was powerful through the line we think he will get 2000 metres."
Meech bemoaned the lack of tempo and November Dreaming's inexperience as the reason for her defeat.
"It was just a terribly run race, they went at a canter and then I got flushed out and when she got to the front she didn't know how to hit the line," Meech said.
Vorster said Balaabel was brought unstuck by the necessity to race away from the rail over the concluding stages.
"From an awkward draw in the small field it was always going to be a tricky run race so she got back a bit and was forced to work home out wide and just had enough on the line," Vorster said.