The Chris Lang-trained five-year-old attained the one thing that had denied him superstar status – an open-age Group 1 win – when he demolished a quality field in the 1720-metre mobile scamper.

Nagambie-based Lang said despite a gutsy fourth after a wide run in last week’s Australian Trotting Grand Prix, Skyvalley needed to perform in the Bill Collins to justify the big wraps and he was thrilled to see how he responded.

“He was a fantastic run in the Grand Prix, doing what he had to do, but he did have to stand up tonight,” Lang said.

“But now he’s come to Group 1 level at open age and beat the best that Australasia has to offer, so there’s not much more that he can do.”

The son of Muscles Yankee all but assured favouritism for next year’s SEW-Eurodrive Inter Dominion Trotting Championship, which starts at Ballarat on January 30, with a dazzling win.

After bursting to the front from barrier three with Lang’s son Chris Jnr in the cart, Skyvalley broke 30 seconds for every quarter on his way to a scintillating 1:56.3 success.

He cruised home by 5.5 metres from stablemate, and Lang Snr’s drive, Sundons Gift ($7), who finished hard from the rear to grab second placing, 1.9m in front of Ronerail ($20).

Highly-rated Kiwi Springbank Richard ($7.20) settled rearward and was never a factor, finishing seventh, more than 12m from the winner.

Lang was ecstatic to celebrate his first Bill Collins Sprint success with a quinella.

“I would have rather I won it (with my drive), but you can’t always win and it’s a race I’d never won before (as a trainer) so it’s nice to have now won it,” Lang said.

“To win the race on its own would be fantastic, but the quinella is especially significant and I’m happy for Skyvalley because he deserved it.”