The drama got underway before the horses left the barriers, with Raised for Battle (Sophie Young) and Pera Pera (Aaron Bullock, $3.80 favourite) undergoing last minute veterinary checks before the former was scratched from the race.

Any Blinkin' Day jumped well from barrier two and went straight to the lead, with It's A Shamozzle (Vad Bolozhinskyi, $8.00) and the Frank Hayes-trained Baites (Kaylee Kirkwood, $51) also showing pace early.

Cavallo went to the rail and led by a length-and-a-half by the 1200 metre mark, as the Justin Stanly-trained Something Borrowed (Kathy O'Hara, $6.50) began to make his run.

Pera Pera picked up the pace around the outside to close Any Blinkin' Day's lead to three-quarters of a length with 900 metres remaining, while on the inside Pirate Ben (Mathew Cahill, $8.00) tried to make his move but found himself stuck on the rail.

Any Blinkin' Day maintained its one-length lead as the field entered the home straight and held on for the win despite a fast-finishing Something Borrowed.

“They threw everything at him. Everything got their chance to beat today,” Lundholm said.

“We went to the front and probably stayed in the worst part of the going I guess but he was just too tough.

“We knew we were a good horse, we knew we were on the minimum and I sort of thought if something wanted to lead us we’d let it lead but if they sort of give us the lead I’d be more than happy to take it and let them work and we did.

“They had to try and work to catch us and thank Christ it pulled off today.”

Lundholm now turns his attention to the Coonamble Cup in just over two weeks, in the hope of getting a major victory at his original home track.​