Cross admitted he’d given Somoso, second-up after breaking his 469-day spell with a disappointing last over 1200 metres at Kembla Grange, a “very rough” chance at best in the XXXX Gold Maiden Handicap (1600m) after struggling over the shorter distance last month.

But the extra trip suited him and his sub-par run, in hindsight, looks like nothing more than a pipe opener to blow the cobwebs out.

“To be quite honest he’s been on the disappointing side until [Friday], his work’s been respectable but his race-day performance has been well below par so we thought we’d give him the extra trip,” Cross said.

“But he won today like a horse that will win again, didn’t he. I did think that he’d improve [but not that much], it’s a very pleasant surprise.

“We gave him a rough chance, but only a very rough one.”

With Andrew Banks – who’d ridden the gelding in work too – on board, Samoso jumped well and by the 1000m mark had pushed up to third on the rails, at that point he was trailing Dad’s Boy and Quirion.

Cross’ gelding held there perfectly before Banks gave him his first kick at the top of the straight, the five-year-old pushing off the rails and storming home to win by a length-and-a-quarter from Dad’s Boy ($31) and Oenophile ($1.60 fav).