Rapido Chaparro had saluted in the 2019 event and Entente continued the tradition by holding a steady lead throughout to collect the win at Port Macquarie Racing Club on Friday, October 9.

Second place Mantastic made up significant ground in the final straight as the only challenger on the line to Entente. Savacool and Cutadeel raced third and fourth.

Stable representative Neil Paine said he'd phoned Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott with the good news directly after the race.

"Entente is a very tough horse and the race was run how we expected to run," he said.

"We wanted him to lead and roll along, that's exactly what (jockey) Tim Clark did during the race. it's very exciting because I was here last year when we won the cup.

"I've already spoken to Gai and Adrian. Gai is even thinking of getting him home to qualify for the Melbourne Cup."

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