The sticky conditions at Rosehill proved to be the difference for Star Of The Seas on Saturday with the five-year-old New Zealand sprinter flying home to win the Group 3 Maurice McCarten Stakes (1100m).

Star Of The Seas scored an upset in the Maurice McCarten Stakes 2020 in the wet. Photo: Steve Hart.

Late rain saw punters flock to Zoustyle, but a comfortable six-length lead quickly evaporated as the speedster bled down the straight.

That left plenty of room for Star Of The Seas jockey James McDonald to pounce, taking up the lead at the 100m mark to win by a length.

We saw a similar late turn of foot from the Kiwi star last time out in The Gong where he only half a length behind the winner Mister Sea Wolf in third.

Trainer Chris Waller is now eyeing a return to Group 1 company after running third in the Epsom last year, but he hasn’t made any plans to backup in next week’s Group 1 The Galaxy just yet.

“He’s beaten a good horse to us. We picked this race out giving him the chance to show he can sprint and we were spoiled when it started to rain. Hopefully we can get another win with him in the carnival,” Waller said.

Star Of The Seas had won three times before on the heavy, so the track conditions suited him on Saturday after Soothing was scratched.

Waller said after the race that he knew his horse had the talent to get over the top of them in the dying stages.

“We knew he’d be strong at the finish. When the leader was a long way in front and a handy horse but he picked them off one at a time. It was a great result to win in those colours,” he said.

Star Of The Seas holds a nomination in next month’s Doncaster Mile on April 4 but remains a $67 chance with Ladbrokes.com.au.

Click here for the latest all-in 2020 Doncaster Mile odds courtesy of Ladbrokes.com.au.

2020 Maurice McCarten Stakes Results