Underrated gelding Voice Commander gave trainer Nick Olive his biggest career victory so far in the Festival Stakes at Rosehill, with the promise of more to come this summer.Punters who rallied to Theophorus over the past two days were lamenting after the $5 second favourite's luckless run in Saturday's 1500-metre Listed feature but Olive was all smiles.His only concern before the race was the wide alley (14) but he left it up to Tye Angland to position the $10 chance and the young jockey did hi

Underrated gelding Voice Commander gave trainer Nick Olive his biggest career victory so far in the Festival Stakes at Rosehill, with the promise of more to come this summer.

Punters who rallied to Theophorus over the past two days were lamenting after the $5 second favourite's luckless run in Saturday's 1500-metre Listed feature but Olive was all smiles.

His only concern before the race was the wide alley (14) but he left it up to Tye Angland to position the $10 chance and the young jockey did his job to perfection, getting Voice Commander over to sit outside the leader Phantom Thief going into the home turn.

Voice Commander cruised to the front and stretched out to a big lead with Synonym ($41) launching his challenge wide on the track.

With Glyn Schofield riding vigorously, Synonym came within a head while Theophorus was a half-length third after being posted three wide for much of the race.

"I love this horse," Olive said.

"He is just as tough as nails and it is great to finally get my first stakes win.

"I came close with Zenarta who ran third in a Wakeful Stakes and second in the Group One Australasian Oaks but to get there with this horse is special."

Voice Commander won the Goulburn Cup (1600m) on November 21 and prior to that was second to Vigor over the same distance at Flemington on the last day of the Melbourne Cup carnival.

He will now go on to the Group Two Villiers Stakes (1600m) on December 20 like most of his rivals including Theophorus.

"I think he was under the odds today considering what he has done," trainer Gary Nickson said of Theophorus.

"The way the race was run didn't help him and he was stuck wide.

"His last 50 metres was great and he will go on to the Villiers at this stage."

Schofield said Synonym had to work too hard after he was forced to go back from barrier 15.

"His run just died in the last 50 metres," he said.

"But he must have made up ten lengths, it was an exceptional effort."

Angland was not sure he could hold on to win but said Voice Commander found plenty.

"When he was left in front on his own he tended to overrace a bit," he said.

"I thought I was in trouble but he really dug deep."