AJC Australian Derby-bound gelding Pre Eminence unexpectedly gave trainer Mick Price his second Alister Clark Stakes win in a row at Moonee Valley.Price, who won the Group Two event last year with Sound Journey, admitted he hadn't trained up Pre Eminence for Saturday's race, describing the win as a bonus.Pre Eminence, who was third in the Victoria Derby and led all the way to win the Norman Robinson Stakes in the spring, was having only his second run this campaign.Price and jockey Craig Newitt

AJC Australian Derby-bound gelding Pre Eminence unexpectedly gave trainer Mick Price his second Alister Clark Stakes win in a row at Moonee Valley.

Price, who won the Group Two event last year with Sound Journey, admitted he hadn't trained up Pre Eminence for Saturday's race, describing the win as a bonus.

Pre Eminence, who was third in the Victoria Derby and led all the way to win the Norman Robinson Stakes in the spring, was having only his second run this campaign.

Price and jockey Craig Newitt decided to ride Pre Eminence off the pace in the hope that he could finish off and fill a place, but it was clear at the 600 metres he would be the horse to beat when he whipped around the field.

He looked set for a fight with Danny O'Brien's much-hyped $2.60 favourite Keano rounding the home turn but that horse weakened to finish fifth as Pre Eminence ($17) charged away to win by 1-1/4 lengths from Eagle Falls ($4.20) with Definitive ($21) a half-neck away third.

"I thought the mile (1600m) here was too short for him and we just had a plan to ride him cold," Price said.

He applauded Newitt's initiative to peel out at the 800 metres to make his run which gave the son of Encosta De Lago victory.

"It was just a superb ride to go when they all stacked up and for some reason nothing went with him." Price said.

Newitt said he knew it was a gamble to make his run when he did but he was confident Pre Eminence would dig deep up the straight.

"I took the punt on him as it will be the last time we ride him back like that," Newitt said,

"I thought he was still a little bit underdone but I know he just keeps coming."

Price said Pre Eminence was in for an exciting autumn.

"I didn't think he would win today," he said.

"I thought they would be too sharp for him and I didn't have him specifically trained up as we want to end up in the AJC Derby with him."

Pre Eminence was a headstrong horse until he was gelded after finishing third to Rebel Raider and Whobegotyou in the Victoria Derby in November.

Price said the procedure had been the making of the promising young horse.

"He has come a back a big, tough, staying three-year-old," Price said.

He said Pre Eminence would go to Sydney for the Randwick and Rosehill Guineas after his next run in the Group Two Autumn Stakes (1800m) at Caulfield on February 28.