A National Derby heat winner last year for Richmond Vale trainer Jason Mackay, Aston Sapporo had not won since May 2020 and was moved last month to Davidson's kennels.

He started well from box four to lead the 520m free-for-all on Saturday night and was never headed. Kennelmate Zipping Vernon was third. Davidson was pleased to see Aston Sapporo back to form and said he and Zipping Vernon would be aimed at next week's Bathurst Cup.

"He had a couple of niggling injuries when Jason had him and he lost his confidence a bit, so Jason rang up [owner] Ray [Borda] and said he probably needs a change of kennels to see if we could spark him back into gear," Davidson said.

"We knew he could run but he was just out of sorts. The last four runs he's started to find himself again and he's settled in nice."

On Monday at Maitland, Davidson said he had only "each-way chances" on the Australia Day Cup program.

Zipping Glamour will step up to 400m in the seventh, while I'm Explosive is back from a last-start fall in the opening race maiden.