Lyncean Academy showed he was on target for an overdue Group win with a barnstorming victory at Rosehill which set him on the path to next month's Villiers Stakes.Trainer Guy Walter is an unabashed fan of the six-year-old gelding who has placings in the JRA Plate and McKell Cup on his record.He also won the Rowley Mile at Hawkesbury last autumn and the Group Two Villiers Stakes on December 19 over the same distance was uppermost on the trainer's mind after Saturday's win."He is a very underrated

Lyncean Academy showed he was on target for an overdue Group win with a barnstorming victory at Rosehill which set him on the path to next month's Villiers Stakes.

Trainer Guy Walter is an unabashed fan of the six-year-old gelding who has placings in the JRA Plate and McKell Cup on his record.

He also won the Rowley Mile at Hawkesbury last autumn and the Group Two Villiers Stakes on December 19 over the same distance was uppermost on the trainer's mind after Saturday's win.

"He is a very underrated horse and has had his share of bad luck in some of his races," Walter said.

"The plan now is the Villiers followed by the Tatts Cup over 2000 metres on New Year's Day.

"He is a lovely, strong horse who deserves a good win.

"The other option was the Summer Cup but that's 2400 metres and I think we will keep him to the shorter races."

Lyncean Academy started at $8 in the Green Lips Media Handicap (1400m) and sustained a long run from back in the field to beat Theophorus ($4.20) by a half-head with $3.80 favourite Vintedge three-quarters of a length away third

O'Crikey ($21) set out at a fast clip in the lead and Lyncean Academy's rider Hugh Bowman thought he had no chance coming round the home turn.

"They went hard in front which was good for us but I had a lot of ground to pick up and I didn't think he could do it," Bowman said.

"I knew they would come back to us but they were still a long way in front when I started my run.

"To his credit he knuckled down and really toughed it out and at the end of the day, she's apples."

Walter and Bowman have combined with success over the years but the trainer will be looking for a new jockey for the summer features.

Bowman will ride in Hong Kong early next month before he marries Christine Walsh.

"I'm taking a break after Hong Kong," Bowman said.

"I won't be back until early in the New Year."

Last season's premier Sydney jockey, Bowman has been invited to represent Australia in the World Series Jockeys' Challenge at the Happy Valley meeting on December 9 before he rides Racing To Win at the International meeting at Sha Tin four days later.