Horses who are inexperienced mentally are usually better chasing down the opposition, so President Lincoln did well to clearly hold out the others after being out on his own.
When he learns what the game is all about and gets his head down and gallops, he could be pretty good.
"He had had only the two starts coming into this race, so he's done a good job," said Latta.
President Lincoln was bred by John Street, principal of official ownership, Lincoln Farms.
"That makes this win pretty special," said Street yesterday.
Like many on the day, the favourite Whoshe appeared to have difficulty with the extremely holding conditions and was going backwards at the 350m.
Another heading places is $45,000 Wellesley Boutique Hotel Stakes winner Silver City.
The attractive grey threw down the gauntlet in the home straight and the only one to try to match him was Seleno, a previous easy Pukekohe debut winner, who attacked relentlessly from the 200m.
"He actually won more comfortably than it might have looked," said winning rider Sam Spratt.
"He didn't really get going until he saw that other horse."
Silver City is not built in the form of a natural juvenile. He stands up tall and looks like a horse that will develop into a top class 3-year-old.
Pero looked another on the way up the ladder when he came from the back of the field to win the maiden at $2.
Ellerslie might have played a supporting role to a number of races on each side of the Tasman, but it threw up a trio of winners who will make a name for themselves,
Insurgent, Durham Town and debut juvenile Silk Pins for Keith and Brendon Hawtin all have the ability to make the headlines.
Insurgent did not appear entirely happy in the conditions in the last race, but kept pressing on determinedly to take the decision and is worth staying with when she next steps up beyond 1600m.
Durham Town cuts an imposing figure, something his opposition will increasingly have to deal with.
