The Chris Waller-trained Hursley relished the step up in trip combined with heavy ground to score in the $150,000 Listed TCL Curved TV Stakes (1800m) at Flemington on Thursday.

Hursley, a lightly-raced son of the New Zealand-based stallion Makfi, was a joint purchase between the stable’s bloodstock agent Guy Mulcaster and David Redvers at Karaka for NZ$200,000 and showed he’s a stayer of good potential when clearly outpointing his rivals today.

Hursley settled in the back half of the field, tracking up in the three-wide line before being presented in the straight. Jockey Craig Williams tracked up behind the leaders swinging for home before easing into clear running with 400 metres to go.

Hursley rolled through his gears, hitting his top nearing the final 200 metres before going clear to win his strong fashion.

“I came here with big confidence,” Williams said. “Chris Waller was very confident with the horse and Justine Hales who manages the horse (Waller’s Melbourne foreperson) said ‘you’ve got a fitter horse’ on the quick back-up.

“Geoffrey Faber, who manages all of Qatar bloodstock and all of Sheikh Fahed’s horses in Australia, said ‘the breed loves soft ground and they love getting out to a trip’.”

Hursley ($12) defeated the Matt Laurie-trained Sea Of Tranquility ($21) by 1-1/2 lengths with Mike Moroney’s War Legend ($15) a length further back in third. The $6 favourite Ragnaar struggled in the going and finished eighth.

The win was Waller and Williams’s second victory each the day after Waller claimed the Red Rock Deli Plate (1700m) with Yellen, part-owned by Victoria Racing Club chairman Michael Burn, while Williams combined with the Robert Smerdon-trained Berisha to win the Swisse Wellness Trophy (1800m). – Racenet.com