Trainer Neville Parnham and his youngest son Chris struck early at Ascot when Vital Importance finished well from near the rear to claim the Crown Perth Handicap (1730m).
Vital Importance beat The Alleged (Jerry Noske) by a neck, finishing well from last on the turn, with a further neck back to Paseo Del Prado (Paul Harvey) third.
“I thought she would win today and I nearly fell out of the car after listening to people on the radio who seemed to give her no chance,” Parnham said.
Although Vital Importance had only won only once before at Ascot Parnham dismissed thoughts of her just being a Belmont performer, a track where she has been victorious on four occasions.
“You have to realise she has raced mainly in elite company at Ascot and I think she is a versatile type.”
Having won races between 1100 -1700m Parnham considers Vital Importance may still like more ground.
“I might try her over 1800m in a couple of weeks and take it from there.”
In the second race of the day (1000m), Onadowntowntrain (Shaun O’Donnell) and Windswept (Brad Parnham ) staged a thrilling duel with the Brent Albuino trained chestnut just prevailing by a short head.
Born to Excel (Ben Paterson) was third.