While the Back to the Milestone Class 2 Plate (1310m) wasn’t the most high-profile event during Friday’s showcase meeting, it was the one that mattered for Lunn.

Victare was tipped as the best of the Dubbo trainer’s four chances and he delivered as Rachael Murray produced yet another fine performance in the saddle.

The gelding hadn’t won since November last year but returned to form by leading for much of the journey and holding off the chasing pack late on.

“He’s just kept improving ever since I’ve got him,” Lunn told Sky Thoroughbred Central after the win.

“He’s had bad feet but I’ll head to a Highway (race) in town now, there’s a class three in a couple of weeks and that will be a nice race for him.”

That $60,000 Highway Handicap is at Randwick on June 30 and Friday’s performance Lunn will have no doubt Victare will run the 1400m there.

From wide out in barrier 11, Murray got out well aboard Victare ($6.50) and quickly swept around the outside to take the lead from Balmain Girl (Anthony Cavallo, $9.50).

The lead quickly grew to two-and-a-half lengths but the field began to bunch again as they rounded the bend for home.

Victare, in the middle of the track, was quickly surrounded as the likes of Arleta ($3.20 favourite, Greg Ryan), Under Pressure ($4.80) and Royal Abbey ($81, Wendy Peel) pushed forward while Balmain Girl continued to apply pressure on the leader.

While it appeared they might overrun Lunn’s hope, Victare never dropped off and held on to win by a third-of-a-length from Sue Grills’ Arleta and the Max Crockett-trained Balmain Girl.

Vicatre now has three wins from 18 starts, with the most recent eight of those for Lunn after moving up from Victoria.

The win on Friday followed up a third-placed finish at Bathurst last start.

“His run was enormous the other day (at Bathurst), he got back and didn’t have any luck at all,” Lunn said.

“She (Murray) did the right thing, let him stride and be where he was comfortable.”