Star Witness has won the $1 million Blue Diamond Stakes (1200m) in spectacular fashion, coming with a magnificent finish to give trainer Danny O'Brien his first win in the race.
Rising star Nicholas Hall produced a cold ride from barrier 15, spotting the leaders about eight lengths at the top of the straight but Star Witness ($10) produced a paralysing late burst to grab Shaheeq ($10) on the line with $3 favourite Beneteau an unlucky third.
For Hall, it is the biggest win in his short career and he follows in the path of father Greg as a winner of Victoria's richest two-year-old race, while the win is a bonus for O'Brien, who didn't even enter Star Witness in the Blue Diamond to start with, but opted for a late entry fee when he saw how impressive the son of Starcraft was.
It was a race which saw plenty of interference and plenty of hard luck stories, but that took nothing away from the winner, who had to come around the whole field to win.
Crystal Lily set a hot early place with Spirit Cent on the outside, while Shaheeq got a great run along the inside off the pace. Back in the field, Beneteau was shuffled out of position, leaving rider Daniel Ganderton no option but to settle near the rear of the field.
Shaheeq cruised up to Crystal Lily on straightening and shot away to a handy lead inside the 200m but the backmakers came very quickly. Beneteau loomed, but it was Star Witness who finished the best, prevailing by a long neck.
Despite such an impressive win, O'Brien will not press on to the Golden Slipper with the colt, who will run in the Sires Produce at Flemington and then be sent for a spell.
Earlier, La Rocket ($20) caused a boilover in the Group Two St George Stakes (1800m) outstaying $2.50 favourite Heart of Dreams, while Miss Maren ($5.50) was third.