Shadow Hero proved himself the best three-year-old stayer in the country with a simply outstanding win in the Gloaming Stakes 2019 demolishing his rivals ahead of the Victoria Derby over the Melbourne Cup Carnival.

Shadow Hero confirmed his 2019 VRC Derby favouritism with a big win in Sydney’s Gloaming Stakes. Photo: Steve Hart.

The Mark Newnham-trained Pierro gelding jumped favourite second-up in the Group 3 $200,000 Gloaming Stakes (1800m) at Rosehill on Golden Rose Stakes Day after his Listed Dulcify Quality (1500m) third first-up.

He was very good late in that race a fortnight back and relished getting out over the 1800m in the Gloaming, winning by a runaway margin ahead of bigger and better Spring Racing targets.

Ridden to victory by Joshua Parr, Shadow Hero settled well back in the field as the Kiwi raider Rhaegar hit the front as the surprise leader.

Rhaegar led into the straight with the Dulcify Quality winner Just Thinkin’ hot on his heels before moving up to sit alongside the front-runner 300m out.

It quickly became all about the favourite Shadow Hero however who came with a missive late run to finish right over the top of them with a dominant three length victory.

“Convincing is very good way of describing it, he’s a class above these horses today, one of very few moments in my life I’m lost for words,” Parr said.

“Obviously this horse’s ability has been well known for sometime. Obviously we were unsure just what level he could get to.

“He’s just demolished them at 1800m and I think he could go again.

“He’s got such a fantastic attitude, you cannot stir this horse, it’s remarkable.

“I’m just delighted to be apart of him.”

-raced Subedar ran second, while Murray Baker’s Ming Dynasty Quality winner from New Zealand Quick Thinker rounded out the Gloaming Stakes trifecta in third.

Shadow Hero will now step out over further with a likely next-up run in the $1 million Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) at Randwick on October 12 chasing the double last completed by Ace High (2017).

Ace High also went on to win that year’s VRC Derby and Shadow Hero is set to be heavily backed to complete the same treble looking in a class of his own winning the Gloaming in a top performance.

“That’s what we hoped he was and that’s what I thought he was but I think today has confirmed it,” Newnham said post-win. 

“His demeanor will take him a long way. He’s so relaxed everywhere.

“I think Josh was a little worried when he rode him work on Tuesday, he was a bit too relaxed for him. I said ‘don’t worry, we haven’t put the blinkers on him yet’. He’s a bit like (sire) Pierro in that sense, you put the blinkers on and he turns into a super hero.

“He and the other filly I’ve got, Celestial Falls, their build up to these races second up 1800m has been in the works for quite a while and they’ve had plenty of miles in their legs to get them here.

“I just didn’t see the point of wasting runs at 1200 and 1400m with them, especially when they get run off their feet and they end up having a harder run than they need so he’s had the right build up for this.

“Hopefully we get to the Spring Champion Stakes in good order and then on to Melbourne.”

The Group 1 $2 million Victoria Derby (2500m) takes place on Day 1 of the Melbourne Cup Carnival, Saturday November 2, and the latest markets at Ladbrokes.com.au have Shadow Hero firming in from $9 to $3 after the Gloaming Stakes result.

Click here for the all-in Victoria Derby 2019 odds courtesy of Ladbrokes.com.au.

2019 Gloaming Stakes Results & Finishing Order