Darley colt Complacent has capitalised on a box-seat run to claim the Group One Spring Champion Stakes at Randwick on Saturday.
Sitting behind the pace from his rails draw, Complacent was taken to the front at the 350m by jockey Christian Reith and scored a clear-cut win from Criterion and the favourite Savvy Nature.
The victory caps a meteoric rise for the son of English Derby winner Authorized.
“To think that he only won a maiden at Hawkesbury two starts ago … it’s a tremendous effort,” trainer Peter Snowden said.
“He’s a talented horse and there’s no doubt he can stay but he’s still very raw.”
Complacent is a Victoria Derby entry and Snowden said his Sydney team would assess the three-year-old’s progress before committing to a start in the blue-riband Classic.
Criterion saved ground to finish runner-up while Savvy Nature wound up late to pick up the minor placing.
Savvy Nature was ridden by Jim Cassidy who will have his next chance to post 100 Group One wins when he partners Hawkspur in the Caulfield Cup next week.