His father is a Melbourne Cup winning jockey and apprentice Taylor Marshall will never forget his first 3200 metre race, even though he finished second.

Marshall is the son of former great John Marshall, who lists the 1999 Melbourne Cup on Rogan Josh among his big wins.

Taylor and Astro Avalanche turned the Stayers Cup at Randwick into a true test of stamina with the Sam Kavanagh-trained gelding establishing a lead of around 40 lengths mid-race.

Astro Avalanche ($81) was still in front halfway down the straight when favourite Destiny's Kiss ($2.60) launched his bid.

The Joe Pride-trained gelding gradually gathered in the leader to win by half a length, much to the relief of his jockey Josh Parr.

"At the top of the straight I was confident and he started making ground, but not quickly enough," Parr said.

"The other horse made him carry the weight (59kg).

"It's good practice for me for the Melbourne Cup. I know how well I can ride them now."

Marshall also knows how well he can ride a stayer, obeying Kavanagh's instructions to get the horse out and running and, most importantly, not to look behind him.

"This is a very slow horse," Kavanagh said.

"I told Taylor to go forward and get him running at his own rhythm and I said `don't look behind'.

"I was a little surprised at how far in front he was but that is what would be considered a normal pace in Europe where he won two 2800 metre races.

"His genetic tests suggest he should be a hurdler and we wouldn't have bought him if we had known that.

"I want to take him to Queensland for the two-mile race up there and he will probably go jumping next year."

Stewards questioned Marshall and Kavanagh over the tactics before commending the young jockey for his ride.

Marshall said he was not going fast but was unsure how far in front he was.

"I felt he was comfortable and rather than fight him I let him go at his own pace," he said.

The tactics played against the rest of the field with third placed Vatuvei 4-1/2 lengths behind the runner-up.