Grand Dreamer ($7.50) made the most of a rain-affected track to charge home and score from Oncidium Ruler, with Grey Lion ($3.60 favourite) a courageous third for Matt Cumani.

Smerdon grew up as a member of one of Ballarat's best known racing families - his father Bob and legendary uncle Arthur Smerdon also being trainers.

While Smerdon has the bulk of his team at the headquarters of Aquanita racing at Caulfield, he still has a major presence with a Ballarat stable that has up to 30 horses.

In a brutal staying test, Grand Dreamer, Oncidium Ruler, Grey Lion and Mr Garcia were all in a line across the track at the 200m mark.

But it was Smerdon’s galloper that finished best to win by one-and-three-quarter-lengths.

HOW THEY FINISHED

$7.50 GRAND DREAMER Patrick Moloney

$10 ONCIDIUM RULER Beau Mertens (a)

$3.60 FAV GREY LION Jordan Childs

$31 DE LITTLE ENGINE

$4 MR GARCIA

$6.50 ANTONIO GIUSEPPE

$31 BIG BLUE

$31 EXTRA ZERO

$26 BIG MEMORY

$101 JIMMIE JIM

$21 KNOWABLE

$21 SONNTAG