Luis Van Zandt justified favouritism when taking the Holden Plant Rentals Handicap Hurdle in fine style at Gowran Park.

The Scorpion gelding, placed at Fairyhouse last year for Tony Martin and having his second run here for Gavin Cromwell, was sent off the 13/8 favourite after a number of his rivals were taken out on account of the drying ground including the fancied Shannon Fields

The lightly-raced six-year-old took control early in the straight under Jonathan Moore and, despite a slight mistake at the last, kept on well to beat Comporta by four and a half lengths.

Stadius was a further four and a quarter lengths away in third.

Cromwell said, “Good ground is a big help to him as his wind is not great. The conditions suited today and it’s nice to win a race with him.

“I wouldn’t say it was the greatest race, and we’ll look for something similar.”