Savatiano, the $4.60 favourite, won the $1 million The Hunter (1300 metres) under a smart ride from James McDonald, just 35 minutes after Rachel King took filly Asiago to victory in the group 3 Spring Stakes (1600m) for Godolphin and trainer James Cummings.

Five-year-old mare Savatiano led The Hunter from barrier 14 and controlled the tempo before kicking clear for a 1.5-length win over a fast-finishing Tactical Advantage.

Savatiano ran a track record 1:15.76 in claiming the $580,000 first prize.

Newcastle trainers Kris Lees and Jason Deamer secured a nice slice of the rich prizemoney for their large groups of mostly Hunter owners.

The Lees-trained Tactical Advantage won $190,000 for second, while Bon Amis hung for third, another length and a quarter away, to claim $98,000.

The success was soured for Lees with news his three-time group 1-winner, Le Romain, had bled from both nostrils. The seven-year-old gelding raced outside the leader after starting from barrier 11 but he finished 10 lengths last. It was Le Romain's first bleed, which incurs an automatic three-month ban from racing.

The Lees-trained Graff and Invincible Gem finished 12th and 14th respectively. Stewards started an inquiry into the disappointing performance of Graff, which drifted in betting on Saturday from favouritism to $4.80.

A veterinary examination did not reveal any abnormalities and Lees could offer no explanation for the performance. The inquiry was adjourned so stewards could review betting on the event and the stable's treatment records.

The effort of Tactical Advantage made it a treble of runner-up finishes for Lees and Hunter syndicators Australian Bloodstock in the feature races.

Game Of Thorns was a fast-finishing second in the Spring Stakes, while Redoute's Image was runner-up to Tilia Rose in the Max Lees Classic. The combination were also third in the Max Lees Classic with Zeftabrook.

"We can't win a race but they've all run really well," Australian Bloodstock director Jamie Lovett said.

"On these big days you just want the owners to have a good experience, and they have."

Lovett was rapt with the effort of Tactical Advantage, and ride from Nash Rawiller, in the big one.

"They ran a track record, so he was never going to beat the leader," he said.

"But to finish like that ... his closing sectionals would be super, so it's a buzz."

Deamer was pleased with the effort of Bon Amis, a $19 chance, which had not won beyond 1100m. His $98,000 return for third took the $4000 purchase to $578,000 in career earnings.

"It was good to see him jump away clean, he settled well, it was a gun ride from Jason [Collett], he gave him every chance, but his conditions probably give out in the last 50," Deamer said.

"But you can't expect too much first-up at 1300 ... that should shut a few people up for a while anyway.

"It's great for the owners, here on their home track. We came here ready to win, but we'll cop third."

Newcastle Jockey Club chief Matt Benson said early crowd estimates for the day were about 6000, with function areas close to sold out.