Onslaught keeps perfect border record intact

And again Onslaught has gone around at good odds, paying $7.50 as he held off favourite Kiss Me If You Can ($2.80) by a head in a slugfest of a finish.

Mathrick watched the race from halfway up the stewards tower and on coming down from the stairs, was bombarded by congratulations from connections.

“He’s going super, I couldn’t be happier,” Mathrick said.

“He’s drinking the fountain of youth at home, he thinks he is a four-year-old.”

In fact, Onslaught is nine and will turn 10 on Tuesday.

“We had some issues with his heels, but we changed a lot of things around and we’ve been able to get on top of that,” Mathrick said.

“He’s flying since he got back this preparation.”

Friday’s win was the 10th of Onslaught’s 78-start career and Mathrick was asked what was next for the son of Snitzel.

“We’ll have him off the lead pony until they race here again,” he said.

Mathrick also praised the ride of jockey Jason Maskiell, who replaced Jack Hill, and was impressed by the tenacity showed by Onslaught over the concluding stages.

“It’s always nice to ride a winner for Shawn, he’s been a good supporter of mine throughout,” Maskiell said.

“He responded better to the whip in the left hand rather than the right, I was really happy with him today.”

The win thwarted Jamie Mott’s bid for a winning treble aboard Kiss Me If You Can, who lost no admirers in defeat and looks to have his hoof on the till, provided he can find another heavy track.

Hometown hope Tutankhamun also caught the eye in fourth, edged out of a place by Barbie’s Boy.