Maffioso delivered Chris Alford his maiden Chariots Of Fire at his first drive on the horse
Victorian pacer Maffioso scored a stunning last stride victory in Australia's premier four-year-old race, the Chariots Of Fire, at Harold Park on Friday night.
The perennial feature race bridesmaid had his moment in the sun when he collared heavily backed favourite Im Themightyquinn to win the $200,000 classic.
The victory marked another big race success for Ballarat trainer Peter Tonkin and catch driver Chris Alford who combined under similar circumstances to win the 1999 Hunter Cup with Paris Affair.
"He's been runner up so many times in big races so he deserved to win this one," Tonkin said.
"He's been beaten in the Breeders Crown twice and then he was beaten in the (New South Wales) Derby when we thought he was home."
Maffioso roared out of the gate in the 2160-metre feature and whilst unable to cross Western Australian ace Im Themightyquinn he did find room to slot onto the back of the leader.
"Once he found the trail he relaxed beautifully which was the key," Alford, who claimed his first Chariots Of Fire, explained.
"The leader (Im Themightyquinn) kicked on the turn and I thought we were going to run second, but he knuckled down and got there.
"Full credit goes to Peter and Michael Doltoff (caretaker trainer) who had the horse spot on for tonight's race. It was a big thrill."
The Presidential Ball stallion rated 1:59.4 to score by a head from Im Themightyquinn with local roughie Ben Junior ($47.10) seven metres in arrears in third place.
The victory took Maffioso's career record to 22 wins and six placings from just 36 starts for earnings of over $540,000.
He will now be set for the inaugural Tabcorp Australasian Breeders Crown four-year-old series with the heats at Tabcorp Park on August 16 en route to a $100,000 Group 1 final seven days later.
The win capped a big night for Tonkin who also prepared injury-plagued star Captain Kalahari for a monster first-up win in a heat of the Tabcorp Park Cup at Melton 30 minutes earlier.
