Browne Rapt With Vacallo

Jockey Damien Browne believes the best is yet to come from well bred Vacallo following the talented three-year-old's impressive victory at Doomben on Wednesday.

Vacallo, having only his second start, edged out another promising filly Midnight Minx by a long head in the Ascend Sales Maiden Plate (1030m).

Elvine's Elsie finished third, only a neck away.

"He's a very nice type with plenty of scope and he'll be even better when they put blinkers on him," Browne said.

"He beat a handy horse in Midnight Minx and the more racing he does the better he'll be."

Vacallo is a half brother to Show A Heart whose victory in the G1 Stradbroke Handicap at Eagle Farm in 2002 was among four wins at the highest level.

Trainer Rob Heathcote admitted Vacallo's win caught him off guard but he's confident the gelding has a bright future.

"To win a race at their second start is never easy and he did surprise me a little to see him race so close from barrier eight," Heathcote said.

The only downside to Vacallo's victory was the decision made early in his career to have him  gelded.

"It's unfortunate but it was a decision that had to be made when he was being broken in," Heathcote said.

"He was a bit of a lad in his early days and had bit of a temperament problem."

Vacallo is owned by Ross and Judy Cutts who also raced Show A Heart, now a highly successful sire.

The Cutts were in New Zealand and missed the victory along with Vacallo's full sister Gondola Girl who finished fifth to Karanja in the Sita Australia Handicap (1110m).