The joy and relief were apparent on trainer Peter Snowden's face after Musket scored a dominant win in the Shannon Stakes while connections of Bank Robber were left wondering.A three-quarter brother to Makybe Diva, Musket was sold as a yearling for $2.5 million, an Australian record in 2005.Until Saturday, he had not won a stakes race in seven starts but with Bank Robber ($1.45 fav) weakening in the straight, Musket ($9) accelerated and showed his fighting qualities when Black Piranha ($17) came

The joy and relief were apparent on trainer Peter Snowden's face after Musket scored a dominant win in the Shannon Stakes while connections of Bank Robber were left wondering.

A three-quarter brother to Makybe Diva, Musket was sold as a yearling for $2.5 million, an Australian record in 2005.

Until Saturday, he had not won a stakes race in seven starts but with Bank Robber ($1.45 fav) weakening in the straight, Musket ($9) accelerated and showed his fighting qualities when Black Piranha ($17) came on his inside.

He prevailed over his rival to beat Black Piranha by a long head with Ice Chariot ($26) another 1-1/4 lengths third.

Musket, who currently 51kg in the Epsom Handicap (1600m) is liable for a penalty for his win in the Group Two races over 1500 metres.

"That was great, it was an important race," Snowden said.

"I know it sounds silly because he is a five-year-old but he's still not there yet and I don't think we will see the best of him until next autumn.

"The Epsom is a possibility and after that I want to take him to Melbourne and give him a couple of starts there."

Gai Waterhouse was at a loss to explain the run of Bank Robber who finished seventh of the nine runners.

"I just don't know why he ran so atrociously," she said.

"It's back to the drawing board and maybe back to Randwick.

"He hasn't won at Rosehill and Blake (Shinn) said he wanted to climb over the fence."

Bank Robber has won five of his seven starts and a win would have elevated to the top of markets for the Group One Epsom (1600m) on October 4.

Cameron Handicap winner Raheeb displaced him last week and retained favouritism after the race.

Con Karakatsanis, trainer of the runner-up, doesn't have any lofty plans for Black Piranha.

"It's great to see him step up to this class," he said.

"I will keep fresh and look for another nice race."