Chasm broke a 33 month winning drought when prevailing in a blanket finish in the Listed Doveton Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield today.

Having his first start for new trainer Brendan McCarthy, the seven-year-old turned back the years when racing fresh.

Chasm has been somewhat of a ‘gonna’, putting in good performances but rarely converting.

His previous win came in the Listed Auckland Stakes (1610m) at Flemington on April 25, 2009.

While it has been 23 runs since his last win, Chasm formerly trained by Heath Conners, has kept his owner Neil Wilson in the money.

He has earned $282,400 at those winless starts since the Anzac Day win, generally competing in black type races and getting close.

Chasm’s best non-winning effort was when third in the 2010 Group 1 Emirate Stakes (1600m) behind Wall Street during the Flemington Spring Racing Carnival.

Today competing in a field of eight, jockey Chris Symons had Chasm smothered behind a wall of horses coming to the turn after
settling seventh.

The Anthony Freedman trained First Command took up unusual role of led.

Jockey Jamie Mott got his own way in front with the well backed Cat’s Pyjamas on its outside.

Cat’s Pyjamas was the first beaten at the turn with Second Effort joining the leaders three wide.

The final 100m was a good old fashion slog with First Command fighting hard under 59kg.

Stirling Grove, Cascabel, Second Effort and Chasm all gradually picking up the leader.

Cascabel couldn’t finish off but a head separated the other four at the 50m, mark.

Stirling Grove and Chasm edge to the front with the latter getting the verdict by a nose.

Chasm was transferred to McCarthy after Conners moved out of Caulfield to train at Geelong.

“Lucky Heath looked after him all the way through and we got him at the right time,” a modest McCarthy said.

“He ran a terrific race, he looked like getting baulked a number of times and didn’t look like getting through.

“But he really finished it off well, he got the luck today.

“He was only out in the paddock for a couple of weeks and he has just done incredibly well since he has been in.”

Wilson said the decision to go with McCarthy was based on the fact the horse could stay trained at Caulfield.

“He likes Caulfield, and got a bit homesick when he left, he was squealing happily when he got back there,” Wilson said.

“You don’t always have to win to enjoy, just the experience of getting close and then days like today make it all worthwhile.”

Chasm brought up a winning riding double for Symons who won earlier in the day on impressive two-year-old Sweet Little Lies.