David Hayes was in no hurry to bring Honey’s Steel Gold to town, preferring to give the colt race experience at the provincials, before going in at the deep end.  

After five runs, the latest a win at Cranbourne convinced the trainer the timing was right to take the next step and come to the city.

Wisdom payed off with Honey’s Steel Gold getting up in the last stride to defeat the more fancied, The Bowler, in the Taj Rossi Series Final at Flemington.

The Bowler was well supported to start second favourite, looked to have the race won until Honey’s Steel Gold put in his late claim.

Lady Lakshmi started favourite, but didn’t show the same dash as she had when winning at her two previous starts at Flemington.

The bloom is now off; she will go for a break, which will have to be short one if she is going to be prepared for the spring.

Which direction the winner, Honey’s Steel Gold, will take is not certain; it will depend on how he pulls up.

He is by Keep The Faith, from Lunar Lights, by Bianconi, he is destined to become a successful broodmare sire.

The result couldn’t have been better scripted as the winner carried the same colours as Taj Rossi did, white brown circles registered by the late Vic Peters, he raced Taj Rossi with much success.

Honey's Steel Gold on the outside