Deploy will head to the 2017 Tramway Stakes in a fortnight after he made a winning return to the races in the 2017 Show County Quality at Royal Randwick this afternoon.

Deploy and The Virginian fought out the finish in the 2017 Show County Quality. Photo by: Steve Hart

Deploy was extremely well-backed in the lead-up to the Show County Quality and Brenton Avdulla was able to settle the talented galloper just behind the speed in the early stages of the race.

The Virginian loomed on his outside and looked as though he would finish over the top of his rival, but Deploy was able to fight back in the final 100 metres to secure a feature race win in track record time.

Trainer Gerald Ryan said that he was not particularly worried when Deploy was challenged by The Virginian as he was confident that he would find late, while he was quick to pay credit to the ride of Avdulla.

“I was waiting for Brenton to give him a hit around the tail because he does find when he gets a smack around the tail,” Ryan said.

“It worked out great as he got into the 1×1 spot and travelled good.

“He is not the easiest horse to ride because he hits a flat spot and you have to get at him a little bit earlier than normal when you come from that position, but Brenton summed him up quick and all the early work that he has done on him worked.

“We will just keep poking along and we will probably come back here in a fortnight for the Tramway and then we will see.

“He is a good honest horse that makes his own luck and puts himself there.

Talented mare Omei Sword made her return to the races in the Show County Quality, but he missed the start – like her stablemate Winx – and was never able to get into the contest.