With Chris Lewis on the sidelines serving a term of suspension, Mark Reed, on his first night back after a suspension, made the most of the chance drive to extricate Argent Treasure from a seemingly impossible position in an exciting race watched by a crowd of 8000 at the annual Italian night.

Reed's cause was helped by a mishap 450m from home when Gary Hall jun. eased out with 2/1 favourite Im Themightyquinn and caused interference to Can Return Fire.

Can Return Fire broke into a gallop and this incident left Reed with an opportunity to start easing Argent Treasure off the pegs.

Argent Treasure then had to shoulder his way out of congestion when he turned for home in sixth position. The grey was still sixth and seemingly with an impossible task with 50m to travel. But he then burst into the clear and charged past Im Themightyquinn and Schinzig Buller to score in emphatic fashion.

In a sequel to the thrilling event, the stewards suspended Hall for 12 days. His suspension will end at midnight on Thursday week, enabling Hall to drive Im Themightyquinn in the Nugget final.

With 450m to travel, Hall eased Im Themightyquinn out and the gelding's off-side sulky wheel contacted Can Return Fire's near hind leg, causing him to break into a gallop.

Argent Treasure, produced in fine fettle by trainer Ross Olivieri, now becomes the first automatic qualifier for the rich 2536m Nugget final. It is well worth noting that Argent Treasure has raced only twice over 2536m and has won both times --- in Friday night's prelude and in the WA Derby last April.

Argent Treasure now has had only 16 starts for five wins and six placings for stakes of $245,220. He was driven in his first 15 starts by Lewis.

Reed was hoping, and planning, to set the pace with Argent Treasure, who drew barrier one on Friday night. But the grey was surprisingly badly beaten for early pace and he settled three back on the pegs, with Legislate setting a brisk pace.

Birthday, The Vice Captain and Im Themightyquinn all had periods in the breeze in the first 550m before Kade Howson dashed Schinzig Buller forward to move outside the pacemaker with two laps to travel, thus giving Im Themighyquinn an ideal passage, one-out and one-back.

Schinzig Buller eventually forged to the front 300m from home and he held the advantage until the final couple of strides. He finished third, a head behind Im Themightyquinn, who was beaten a length by Argent Treasure, who rated 2.0.1.

Mach Ruler, who trailed the pacemaker throughout, ran home strongly on the inside to be fourth, with The Vice Captain a very close fifth after being forced three wide for much of the journey.

Ken Casellas