Michael Rodd had to forego Lloyd Kennewell’s Buck’s Party in Las Vegas, but the young Adelaide trainer made staying at home worthwhile when he presented Rodd with the feature winner at Caulfield.

The Kennewell-trained Thiamandi carried the Melbourne Cup-winning hoop to an upset win in the $150,000 Group 3 Slickpix Bletchingly Stakes (1200m), the final Black Type race of the 2013/14 season, which was thought to be a Lord of the Sky benefit.

But the Robbie Laing-trained speedster, who started the $1.40 favourite, was beaten early in the straight and had to settle for fourth placing.

Rodd was happy to stay at home and claim the spoils most had thought reserved for Lord of the Sky.

“I actually got invited to the party, but I’m glad I could stay and ride a winner for him,” Rodd said. “I hope they’ve having a good time.

“Realistically, I was hoping we could run a nice second or third and it’d be a really good breeding page for her, but winning’s even better,” he said.

Thiamandi continued her progression during a campaign in which she is being ridden more conservatively.

Ridden for speed early in her career – which has now produced six wins from 17 starts – the daughter of Street Boss again played the role of stalker, as she did in her 1100m win at her previous start, and stormed to a dominant win.

After settling just behind Lord of the Sky, Thiamandi – a noted drifter from $11 to $19 – powered past the favourite at the 250m before streaking away for a two-length win.

Consistent mare Gig ($17) worked home solidly down the outside to grab second, a neck in advance of Nearest to Pin ($17).

Rodd said it was always the plan to ride her with a sit and she relished it.

“She settled lovely and I just tried to track Dwayne for as long as I could but when I got outside him and I thought, ‘there’s something gone wrong there (with Lord of the Sky) and I just have to go for home’, “he said. “She held them all off nicely.”

Lord of the Sky’s rider Dwayne Dunn said riding Lord of the Sky, who has won most of his races in dashing fashion, conservatively may have been behind the defeat.

“Maybe he’s one dimensional and you’ve got to keep him rocking and break their hearts earlier, I’m not sure,” he said. “I expected a lot more under the bonnet when I went for him.”

The full result of the Slickpix Bletchingly Stakes is available here