It was a polar opposite to Horrifying’s last start, also at Flemington, in the Banjo Paterson Series Final, who was caught wide and working for most of the race, holding on for a brave third.

This time around, drawn barrier one with Craig Williams riding, Horrifying led the field at a crawl and was able to ramp up the tempo as he liked, going on to win by two lengths over consistent stayer Through Irish Eyes.

When the stable combine with Craig Williams they have a 71% return on investment, which will no doubt be boosted again today, and co-trainer Levi Kavanagh was full of praise for both horse and jockey after the race.

“It was perfect (the ride) wasn’t it? Got him into a nice spot easily enough and got into a good rhythm, got a bit of a relax over the back of the track, they were going really slow and it just panned out perfectly from there,” Kavanagh said.

Horrifying has now won two of his last three and placed in five of his last six, something Kavanagh attributes to a change in tactics.

“He was just getting too far back in the run and it’s a lot of work to do, to come from last in these long-distance races so we changed the pattern and it’s just been the best thing for him,” Kavanagh said.

Having his eighth run in the campaign, the stable haven’t seen any signs of slowing down which may entice them to continue racing in the early Spring and potentially catch some of the better horses underdone.

“We’ll let him tell us but at the moment he’s happy, he’s healthy, he’s put in an excellent run at his last few starts so we’ll just keep him ticking along nicely.”