Trainer Tony Noonan declared the best was yet to come from Kutchinsky following his narrow win in the Group Three Grand Prix Stakes at Doomben.Kutchinsky looked gone for all money at the top of the straight but rallied strongly over the final stages to edge out the gallant New Zealander The Hombre by a short neck in Saturday's 2200-metre feature.The Bart Cummings-trained Landlord filled the minor placing only a long neck away.Noonan admitted he had given up hope before the home turn with Kutchin

Trainer Tony Noonan declared the best was yet to come from Kutchinsky following his narrow win in the Group Three Grand Prix Stakes at Doomben.

Kutchinsky looked gone for all money at the top of the straight but rallied strongly over the final stages to edge out the gallant New Zealander The Hombre by a short neck in Saturday's 2200-metre feature.

The Bart Cummings-trained Landlord filled the minor placing only a long neck away.

Noonan admitted he had given up hope before the home turn with Kutchinsky when he was well back.

"I gave him away before the corner. He was struggling and not handling the give in the ground," Noonan said.

"But then I could see him coming in the straight and all of a sudden I thought he would run out of ground."

Noonan is now looking for his first Group One north of the Tweed Heads border in the Queensland Derby (2400m) at Eagle Farm in two weeks.

He declared Kutchinsky the most promising stayer he had prepared but admitted he hadn't trained many over the years.

"He's the most promising stayer I've ever had but I was a little worried going into the race that I might have been a bit soft on him," he said.

"Unfortunately we flew up later than expected and he missed an important gallop. I haven't done anything with him really and he'll improve a lot from this run.

"He'll eat 2400 metres next start."

Kutchinsky's rider Craig Newitt was also a little worried when the son of Anabaa got back in the early stages, but knew he was on a very good horse.

"I didn't think he was going to win until halfway down the straight," Newitt said.

"He's a very good horse and is only going to get better for the Derby."

New Zealand trainer John Bary left Doomben a happy man after The Hombre's narrow defeat.

"He's getting better and better and he looks a lot more professional," Bary said.

"He keeps learning and puts his head out and has a go.

"We were beaten by a better horse on the day but I felt this run was a better performance than last start."

The Hombre was coming off a victory in the Group Three Rough Habit Plate (2020m) at Doomben a fortnight ago when he was awarded the race on protest.

Jockey Damien Oliver was delighted with Landlord's placing.

"He'll be better on top of the ground as he couldn't use his acceleration today," Oliver said.