Decision Time wins in rare Melbourne visit

One of the young guns of the Melbourne riding ranks has joined forces with one of the veterans of Sydney racing to win at Flemington.

Apprentice Regan Bayliss guided nine-year-old sprinter Decision Time to victory in Saturday’s Fiesta Star Handicap (1100m) in a rare Melbourne visit for the 2010 Golden Slipper runner-up.

The Clarry Conners-trained Decision Time had only raced in Melbourne once before in his previous 51 starts, finishing unplaced in the Gilgai Stakes during the spring of 2011.

Sent out a $31 chance for his first start in nine weeks, the grand campaigner notched the 11th win of his career and first since August last year as he sprinted clear late to win the straight-track sprint by a length from Runsati with Zupacharged a neck away third.

The win took Decision Time’s career earnings past $1.7 million.

“Clarry was quietly confident going into today,” Bayliss said.

“Obviously in his previous form he has been competitive at Group One level. You only had to look at him in the yard to know that the horse was in terrific order.

“He was in a good frame of mind and he cantered to the gates beautifully.

“I was slightly concerned about where we drew (one) but we were able to get a bit of cover behind Odyssey Moon.

“He was able to overcome that strong headwind when I pulled him out and he was strong right through the wire.”

The in-form Bayliss said it was a thrill to ride a winner for Conners.

“He’s obviously a very well-respected trainer with a history of success, so it was good to get one on the board for him,” he said.