Promising South Island stayer Southern Ocean showed he is on target for his tilt at the New Zealand Cup (3200m) in three weeks when he won the Listed Spring Classic (2000m) at Riccarton Park in Christchurch yesterday.
The lightly raced son of Ocean Park was having just his ninth raceday start.
The Terri Rae-trained Southern Ocean started a warm $3.80 favourite in an even field, after being narrowly beaten by race rival Dee And Gee over the same distance earlier in the month.
Forced to travel three-wide for most of the race, rider Lisa Allpress didn't panic as she had Southern Ocean travelling kindly as the pair loomed into contention approaching the long run home at Riccarton.
Southern Ocean joined issue with eventual runner-up El Gladiador at the 200m before forging to a half-length lead, which he maintained to the winning post, with Dee And Gee steaming home late for third.
Rae will now concentrate on getting Southern Ocean to the New Zealand Cup, with his final lead-up likely to be in the Listed Metropolitan Trophy (2500m) at Riccarton on November 6.