Magpie Hector has stamped himself as the nation’s newest staying star, claiming a brilliant victory in the Group 1 Sportsbet Zoom Top (730m) at The Meadows on Saturday night.

The NSW raider delivered on the confidence of trainer Jack Smith, who declared pre-race that “NSW has Victoria covered”, as Magpie Hector powered home to score his first Group 1 success in 42.33 seconds.

Jumping from box seven, Magpie Hector quickly worked into a striking position behind leader and recent Group 1 winner Fade To Black.

As the field stretched out down the back, Smith’s charge loomed ominously before asserting his strength in the run to the line, turning the tables on several rivals who had had his measure in recent weeks in Queensland.

Fade To Black battled on strongly to finish second, just under two lengths away, while Without A Trace produced a late surge to grab third.

“He naturally had no early speed, but he’s got a big motor, so it was an easy decision to step him up over 700,” Smith said.

“I didn’t think he could run around the dogs in this field from box seven, but it shows how much I know,” he added.

“We thought his turn might come but I didn’t think it was going to be tonight.”

The win also fulfilled a long-held ambition for owner Andrew Walker, who set the bar high from the outset.

“The owner told me he wanted to win a Group 1,” Smith said.

“The problem with winning a Group 1 is that you want to win another one.”

With a powerful staying performance now on his resume, Magpie Hector looks well and truly ready to become a major force in the sport’s elite long-distance ranks.

And pending Smith and Magpie Hector pulls up well from tonight, they will venture back down the freeway for heats of the Sportsbet Fanta Bale Super Stayers at the same track and distance next weekend.