Galah has won the Listed Australia Stakes

Galah showed he was on track for the Group 2 Sandown Guineas (1600m) in mid November with a last to first win in today’s Listed Australia Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield.

The sizeable son of Redoute’s Choice was hooked out to last in the early running by jockey Kerrin McEvoy to avoid being trapped wide.

Race favourite Masthead led and jockey Craig Williams set a steady pace seemingly having his opposition struggling at the home turn.

Masthead kicked and it was left to Galah to produce a big finish.

He did so and defeated Masthead by head with Highly Recommended, doing a good job to get third after racing wide without cover back in the field, another two and three quarter lengths away.

Trainer Peter Snowden said Galah will be a better horse in the autumn and he wouldn’t thrash him this spring.

“It was  a big effort, we didn’t really want to go back to last and he got a bit lost on each corner, but when he nails down the last 200m he is very strong,  he has actually done that at all his starts.

“When he gets over a bit further he will be a better horse.

“I like him, I just think he is an autumn horse and I won’t thrash him now.

“He will go to the Carbine Stakes (at Flemington on October 29) before the Sandown Guineas which is his main race.”

“He has an Aussie name but he is no mug, I can tell you.”