Julienas (18) won the Royal Hunt Cup for Walter Swinburn last season
PICTURE: Martin LynchRoyal Hunt Cup winner Julienas scores for Gai
Report: Australia, Friday
Wyong: Wyong Gold Cup (Listed) 2,100 metres (1m2½f)
LAST year's Royal Hunt Cup winner Julienas (Gai Waterhouse/Nash Rawiller) is in line for a step up to Group 1 company after denying the locals a hometown Cup victory.
The former Walter Swinburn-trained five-year-old held off a late lunge from local galloper Gazza Guru to take out the A$150,000 Wyong Gold Cup by a head to give Waterhouse and Rawiller the feature double after Miss Stellabelle won another Listed race on the card.
Julienas, the 6-4 favourite, made it a big week for Waterhouse-trained imports after one-time Sir Henry Cecil trainee Glencadam Gold showed his potential with victory in the Listed Premier's Cup at Rosehill last Saturday.
Rawiller believes there is plenty of upside to Julienas who is headed towards the Group 1 Metropolitan in Sydney.
"I felt the horse had the race in its keeping the whole way," Rawiller said. "He had a beautiful run and just travelled so well but he's just lacking the experience and know-how to put the race away.
"I thought he was going to come away and win by a length but he got very lost late so we'll work on that before his next run. I think he's a promising horse with a bit of upside."
Julienas and Glencadam Gold were two of four horses purchased by Waterhouse in England last year.
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