The 8-year-old gelding had been off the winners’ list almost two years to the day, but Davies was satisfied with Goldstone’s lead-up races coming into the cup and he didn’t disappoint, producing a late charge to claim the race.

The victory brought Goldstone’s record to four wins and seven placings from 37 starts for prizemoney totalling $269,623 taking in the cup’s first prize earnings of $20,000.

Making up that total had been wins in Sydney and Melbourne where the gelding started its career. Goldstone went through the Magic Millions sale in Queensland and was bought by Bart Cummings for $220,000.

A syndicate managed by a former police minister in the NSW Government Paul Whelan now races Goldstone.

In a day that mostly belonged to Davies’ hometown, Cessnock jockey Robert Thompson landed a double on Professor Marx in the maiden over 1000 metres and Madam Fran in a class one over the same distance.

Both are trained at Scone by Rodney Northam with whom Thompson has a close association.

Madam Fran, a 4-year-old mare is by the former great sprinter Favelon and was first up since June 5 and now boasts a record of two wins and three placings from nine starts. Professor Marx was also resuming after a four-month break and registered its first win in five starts.

At Scone on Saturday Thompson rode one winner, Alessia and finished second on Fabry, owned by several of his family members.