Julienas books his G1 Metropolitan Handicap berth with Colin Stephen win

With a berth in the G1 Metropolitan Handicap in a week's time on the line, Cape Cross gelding Julienas assured he will back up next Saturday after leading all the way to achieve his fourth Australian Stakes victory when taking out the G3 Colin Stephen Quality over 12f at Rosehill Gardens on September 28.

With a very strong wind causing havoc to the leaders of the first few races on the day, the Gai Waterhouse-trained Julienas defied the pattern of the day and jumped to the lead.

Having finished a short neck second in this very race the year prior, jockey Nash Rawiller was at his best once again, allowing the gelding to travel comfortably and once the home turn was reached he sprinted away from the rest of the field to take the race by two lengths from I’m Imposing with a further one-and-a-half lengths to the third placed Planet Purple.

Imported to race in Australia in January 2012, Julienas has had 13 starts for his current connections, winning on four occasions, all at Stakes level, and has now taken his career earnings past the A$500,000.

Bred by Pendley Farm, Julienas is out of the G2 Cherry Hinton Stakes winner and G1 Phoenix Stakes third placed Dora Carrington, herself a half-sister to G1 Middle Park Stakes winner Primo Valentino.

The victory of Julienas is the third Stakes victory in the last three days for his sire after the previous victories of Caucus in the Listed Jockey Club Rose Bowl and Zurigha in the Listed Rosemary Stakes.

Cape Cross is the sire of 83 Stakes winners worldwide highlighted by nine individual G1 winners including Sea The Stars, Ouija Board, Sea Change and Able One.