The day started with a horror show for punters as the heavily backed favourite Cylinder finding all sorts of trouble in the straight, flashing late for second in the Listed Merson Cooper Stakes (1000m).
Little Brose capitalised on that having run second on debut in the Group 3 Maribyrnong Stakes (1000m) at Flemington, finding the line well to score by 1.2 lengths.
Co-trainer J.D. Hayes said the colt would be targeted at Group 1 riches in the Autumn.
"We'll probably have to resist the temptation of taking him to Queensland because we do think he'd really hold his own in a race like the Blue Diamond (Stakes)," J.D. said.
Gin Martini was the only mare in the Listed Sandown Cup (3200m) and upstaged her older male counterparts, toughing out her first attempt over the two miles to deny Team Captain and Good Idea.
A tearaway leader in the form of The Unicorn made the Listed Twilight Glow Stakes (1400m) an interesting spectacle for the three-year-old fillies, Craig Newitt unable to control the Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott filly as she led by a space and punctured to finish last, beaten over 46 lengths.
Vienna Princess for Chris Waller and Craig Williams handled the pressure the best, running on well to deny race favourite Naiconi by 1.25 lengths.
Another short priced favourite went under in Race 5, the Group 3 Kevin Heffernan Stakes (1400m) as previously unbeaten mare Norwegian Bliss , having her first run out of benchmark grade, couldn't reel in Crosshaven, who notched up his first win in over two years.
A promising three-year-old and winner of the Exford Plate, Caulfield Guineas Prelude and Carbine Club Stakes, Crosshaven had a charmed run and pulled out enough in the straight to deny the favourite and give Ben & J.D. Hayes their second winner of the day.
"We've had to be very patient with him. He's often threatened and just been narrowly beaten, and the owners have been very patient with us which has been good… He was getting frustrating but to win a big race on a day like this is rewarding," J.D. said.
Milford returned to form with a strong win in the Group 3 Eclipse Stakes (1800m), relishing a strong tempo set by favourite Keats and was supported at a price, eventually starting $15 after double that was bet earlier in the week.
He led home a long priced trifecta which paid $35,518.90 on the Victorian tote as El Gladiator ($101) and Holbein ($21) filled the placings.
Trainer Mike Moroney suggested the Listed Lord Stakes (1700m) could be an option on Boxing Day after flying under the radar recently.
"If you watch his run in Sydney in the Five Diamonds he copped a battering from pillar to post… he's just hitting his straps now but we've got to consider the autumn to a degree too and just see what there is for him." Moroney said.
The day's feature was won by 2019 Melbourne Cup winner Vow And Declare as he notched up his first win since his crowning moment, taking out the Group 2 Zipping Classic (2400m).
The other Group 2 on the day, the Sandown Guineas, was won by a filly- a rare occurrence in recent years as the South Australian See You In Heaven proved too tough for her male counterparts.
A few progressive mares contested the last race on the day, and therefore the last race of another huge Spring carnival and it was My Whisper taking out the Group 3 Summoned Stakes (1600m).
Usually run at Sandown over 1500m, the mare by Frankel won the Group 3 Tesio Stakes (1600m) at Moonee Valley two starts back before enduring a tough run in the Group 1 Empire Rose Stakes (1600m) at Flemington.
The lightly raced four-year-old took her record to six wins from eleven starts and gave Mark Zahra a double after riding Crosshaven to victory earlier.
"I was following the favourite Roots, she was a little bit keen early, it's happened all day when horses hit that wind down the side they seem to go a bit keen… the right Group 1 over a mile against her own age she's always a chance," Zahra said.
