New Zealand galloper Purple Sector impressed at Doomben on Saturday winning the Group 3 Rough Habit Plate (2000m).

The John Thompson-trained three-year-old was the market mover with Ladbrokes tipped to pose the biggest threat to Chris Waller’s Dealmaker, who was installed as the favourite.

Purple Sector led over the journey and showed a strong turn of foot down the straight to win by two lengths. Jockey Blake Shinn enjoyed a gun ride finding an extra gear over the final furlong to hold off Dealmaker and the looming A Man To Watch.

Blake Shinn, above, has now ridden over 40 Metro winners in Queensland. Photo Credit: Steve Hart.

With James McDonald on board, Dealmaker shifted three-wide on the bend into second, only to run out of steam over the trip. Purple Sector, meanwhile, remained cool, calm and collected claiming his second ever win from 13 starts.

“It’s been a tough preparation for the horse and probably more so the owners, but he’s done very well over the last couple weeks and arrived up here in very good order” Thompson told Channel 7 after the race.

The Rough Habit Plate is often the ideal leadup into the Queensland Derby, although Thompson has already opted to skip the $600,000 Group 1 race.

“He’ll actually go for a spell, he’ll be in the paddock on Monday” Thompson said.

Saturday marked Purple Sector’s seventh run this prep and his first in Queensland. His last win came back in September over 1500m at Kembla Grange.

Dealmaker is still a chance to head the Derby on June 8. He is currently a $15.00 chance alongside Saturday’s second place-getter A Man To Match.

Full Queenslan Derby Odds can be viewed below.