Two-year-old King Of Love upstaged his more fancied rivals when he produced a slashing performance on the heavy going to score impressively at Canterbury on Wednesday.The Rod Craig-trained gelding put his nose in front rounding the home turn then quickly put paid to his opposition in the closing stages as the $10 chance defeated the $1.85 favourite The Mikado by 2-1/2 lengths.The Peter Snowden-trained debutante Pondicherry ($4.40) was a neck away third in the Retirement Expo 24-26 July Maiden (1

Two-year-old King Of Love upstaged his more fancied rivals when he produced a slashing performance on the heavy going to score impressively at Canterbury on Wednesday.

The Rod Craig-trained gelding put his nose in front rounding the home turn then quickly put paid to his opposition in the closing stages as the $10 chance defeated the $1.85 favourite The Mikado by 2-1/2 lengths.

The Peter Snowden-trained debutante Pondicherry ($4.40) was a neck away third in the Retirement Expo 24-26 July Maiden (1100m).

Craig was delighted with the win and praised Glyn Schofield for a terrific effort at his only ride on the card.

"He's a very good rider, that was his only one today and I'm not sure why, he did a great job," he said.

"This horse has been promising to do something like this and it was good to see him put it together like this."

Schofield was also impressed with the effort and said the heavy (8) track had resulted in some of his other rides not accepting.

"I've just ended up with the one but it was a case of quality over quantity," he said.

"He's been just off the speed before today and hasn't quite finished off but today I made sure I pushed him right up on the leader so he knew it was on and he let down very well."

Craig celebrated a winning double when Nash Rawiller booted home Velocity Gal in the www.theraces.com.au Plate (1550m).

Meanwhile, trainer Joe Pride's pre-race prediction that Bellevent would win the opening race of the day proved spot-on.

But it wasn't all smooth sailing with Bellevent, ridden by Corey Brown, surviving a protest after the rider of the second-placed Deedra, Daniel Ganderton, alleged interference near the 100 metres.

Stewards agreed there was contact between the pair but dismissed the objection.

"She's no star and we'll keep plugging away with her in the winter," Pride said.

"She's worked her way up to this and really deserved the win, this was the right grade for her today."