Sent out a $1.80 favourite in the $100,000 feature race, the five-year-old sat in the pack behind leader Hellova Street in the early stages, before interstate jockey Luke Currie, who was a replacement for injured regular Brendan McCoull, made his move at the 700m mark.

Admiral hit the front with 100m to go and looked set to move away for an easy win, but Hellova Street made one late surge to fall short by a head, with Jerilderie Letter finishing third after an unsuccessful protest against the two-time Newmarket Handicap winner.

Winning trainer Barry Campbell was pleased with the performance of Admiral, who was now won 14 times in 24 starts, but admitted to a moment of worry at the tight finish.

“Hellova Street is a really good horse – he’s won two Newmarket’s – so he’s hard to get around and I said to Luke that he is the horse to beat if given a really good run,” Campbell said.

“He travelled into the race really nicely and maybe got a little tired late – he was only second up from a break – but he did make a long run and they nearly broke the lap record so he’s not going too bad.

“We’ll go to the Tasmania Stakes next, give him a spell to freshen up and bring him back over 1200m in races like the Thomas Lyons and George Adams with hopefully the same result.”

There was also a return to the winners list for talented filly Hot Dipped when she took out the $50,000 3YO Cup over 1200m.

Like Admiral, Hot Dipped also hadn’t tasted success since February and has had runs at Flemington and Caulfield in Group 2 and Group 3 company since winning the Gold Sovereign at Elwick.

Hot Dipped was sent out a $3.40 favourite and didn’t disappoint punters thanks to a superb ride by jockey Bulent Muhcu from the second half of the field, crossing the line in a fast time of 1:09.40.

“It was a perfect ride, but we left it totally up to him,” Broadmarsh trainer Brendan McShane said.

“Bulent took up the reins from there, threaded his way through and a fortunate run came through at the 600m, where he ducked back through inside them and she was just too strong.

“I really don’t think she went anywhere, so I’m not sure what these form guys think – they must have been reading another race book.

“There’s a 1400m race for her here in a fortnight which we will use as a gallop for the Tasmanian Guineas. 

“But I’m really keen to knock off a Strutt Stakes, or possibly an Oaks –  I really think that is where the gold mine is for her.”