Khoekhoe ($14) stormed home to grab victory in the shadows of the post in the $855,000 The Showdown - a 1200m race restricted to horses by Victorian-based sires - at Caulfield on Saturday.

Having just his third race start and coming off a win in an Echuca maiden, Khoekhoe was purchased by Cumani for $50,000 at a Melbourne yearling sale.

"It's important to have good two-year-olds in Australia and I've been trying to prove that we can do it," the English-raised Cumani said.

"We've had stakes winners at two. This isn't a black-type race, but it's worth an awful lot of money.

"We put a lot of work into finding good value horses. He had a great pedigree - no black type, but lots of winners. He was just a stand out horse at the sales and I'm thrilled we got him," he said.

It was contrasting emotions to a week early for Cumani, when he watched Etah James win the $1m Sydney Cup.

The New Zealand-bred mare had spent most of her racing career with Cumani, but was transferred into the care of Ciaron Maher and David Eustace after returning from two starts in NZ under the guidance of part-owner Mark Lupton.

"How fantastic," was Cumani response to Khoekhoe's win.

"You dream of a horse like this. I was a little worried after Echuca that maybe he was just flattered by the pace and maybe the better ground out wide. But to see him to that today was unbelievable.

"I can't thank everyone enough - the staff and the owners that we've got in this horse."

Cumani also praised the effort of stable jockey Fred Kersley.

"He's had a bit of a drop off in rides recently. He's a fantastic rider and he really pulled it together today.

"I just thought Fred was brilliant on him. He didn't panic, he just was waiting, waiting, waiting for the gap and it opened perfectly for him and the horse did the rest.

"Just a fantastic result," he said.

Kersley said he thought he was in a little bit of trouble on the corner.

"I certainly knew that I had a lap full of horse and it was a matter of where I go and when I go.

"Thankfully we got out and around heels without steadying all too much. And, geez, when he got fresh air he really lengthened well," he said.

"The race was run to suit him and run to make him look good late, but for him to come here today and put his best foot forward again, I think that we're really starting to think that there is a good engine there."

"We've always been of the opinion that he'd be a better three-year-old. It's exciting times ahead for him and the owners."

Khoekhoe provided the perfect way for Kersley to end his days as an apprentice jockey.

"Today is my last meeting riding as an apprentice. This race wasn't a claiming race, but to go out with a metro winner on my last day is great.

"Unfortunately I didn't get to outride my claim - I think I fell eight short - but to get it for my boss.

'Matt has put so much support behind me. We missed out on a Group 1 a week ago with Etah James and I think this makes up for it," Kersley said.