The Kris Lees-trained Luncies enjoyed a rails run midfield before lifting in the final few strides of the benchmark 78 handicap (1800 metres) to beat Savoury by just under half a length.

Parr later won the group 3 Hawkesbury Gold Cup on Archedemus and earlier rode Steely to victory in another benchmark 78.

Luncies, carrying the colours made famous by another grey, Chautauqua, was having his second Australian start.

The four-year-old gelding won four of six starts in Great Britain but was four lengths away in seventh at Canterbury in his Australian debut on April 7 in a benchmark 88 handicap over 1550m.

Parr was impressed with Luncies' effort second-up.

"He had a bit to do once we straightened," Parr told Sky Thoroughbred Central.

"They've gone a reasonable tempo and I was quite happy with that. I thought I could take my time and it's just typical of a European horse settling into these conditions that the turn of foot just found him out slightly.

"It took him until right down inside the 200 to get balanced, he took a nice neat gap there and he was really strong late."

Lees said Luncies, which had won up to 2413m in the UK, would be put away for the spring.

"We're going to have a nice horse to field in the spring," Lees said on Saturday.

"It's just about letting him acclimatise to our style of racing. He's made a good step today off what he showed us first-up.

"He got a nice tempo, which suited him. He had a bit of work to do, he had to weave a passage. A really nice ride from Josh."

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