Trainer Ross Olivieri engaged the 19-year-old Harper to drive Argent Treasure to make use of Harper's concession and enable the M2-assessed pacer to contest a race restricted to M1-class horses.

Argent Treasure started from barrier nine and settled at the rear before Harper took him forward, three wide, approaching the bell. The grey then sustained a solid burst to hit the front 15m from the post.

"It's always a pleasure to drive a horse like this," Harper said. "He's a beautiful horse to drive, though he actually didn't fill me with too much confidence going down the back. He did it easy, but he just feels likes there's nothing there.

"But when you ask him for an effort he just says ‘no worries' and gets going and does it all on his own at the end. They went very quickly early and I was happy to let him drop out and settle. When the pace slackened it was easy to get to the breeze.

"I didn't push him down the back; I just saved him for the one sprint. Coming round the corner I pulled the plugs and he said ‘let's go' and it was too easy for him at the end."

Argent Treasure now has won eight times from 27 starts and has earned $307,353 and will be set for feature events in the summer months.

Ken CASELLAS