Japanese import flies flag at Randwick

Front-runner Hush Writer has given his rivals a staying lesson in the St Leger Stakes at Randwick.

Hush Writer has capped a red-letter day for Japanese-bred stayers with a barnstorming win in the Group Three St Leger Stakes at Randwick.

Minutes after Japan’s Mer De Glace saluted in the Caulfield Cup, Hush Writer ($6) streaked to a comfortable victory after leading for much of Saturday’s 2600m support race on Everest day.

Hush Writer’s rivals had no answers as rider Tim Clark eased down the five-year-old gelding well before the line to score by 2-1/4 lengths over runner-up Carif ($14).

Youngstar ($6.50) and Sir Charles Road ($10) dead-heated for third a half-neck further back.

Clarke said Randwick’s slick track (good four) had suited the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained runner down to the ground.

“Dry ground is the key to him,” he said.

“He’s a quirky horse but he’s improving all the time and he’s a nice stayer.”

It was Hush Writer’s fourth run this campaign, bouncing back from his last-start seventh in the Group One Metropolitan at Randwick a fortnight ago.

He ran the last 600 metres in 33.97 seconds, impressing co-trainer Bott.

“Tim Clark got there easily without using too much energy,” he said.

“He got some beautiful sections. He was able to quicken when needed to.

“I was confident throughout, when he was getting a good time like that you knew when Tim asked for the effort he was going to be hard to run down.”

Hush Writer started Everest day outside the top 50 in the Melbourne Cup order of entry but Bott hinted that a trip south was in the offing.

“I would like to get him down there (Melbourne),” he said.

“Exactly what sort of path we take and how we do it I’m not sure.”