Godolphin's Medaglia
Settled back at the tail of the field by Tye Angland, Astoria found the back of Merovee as the field bunched reaching the straight.
He dashed passed Merovee on straightening before Primitivo joined the fray.
Astoria kept up a strong gallop to defeat a rallying Merovee by three-quarters of a length with Primitivo a nose back in third (photos Steve Hart).
Last season Astoria won on debut at Warwick Farm before finishing second the future Group I ATC Champagne Stakes winner The Mission in the Group III The Schweppervescence (1400m) at Rosehill.
He was done for the season after finishing unplaced in the Group I ATC Sires Produce Stakes.
Astoria prepped for the Spring Stakes with a close-up third behind Addictive Nature in the Group III Ming Dynasty Quality at his seasonal bow at Rosehill on August 26.
Godolphin representative Nacim Dilmi said he was surprised as anyone when Astoria trailed the field early.
"It was never the plan to go back, we planned to be on the speed, Dilma told Sky Racing.
"Things didn't pan out but Tye didn't panic and he got him out at the right time.
"The plan with him is 2000 (metres) and beyond. We took the blinkers off him today because last start he was a bit dour and it worked out.
"The Spring Champion Stakes is probably on the cards now."
Angland said the son of Medaglia d'Oro has still plenty left to learn.
"It was a little bit tactical early and I wanted to be a pair or two closer but I drew outside Kerrin (McEvoy on Hypnotist) and he got caught three wide," Angland said.
"When I went for him he let down nice but when he got to the front he's still a bit green.
"He's got improvement still to give which is good as he's winning well and beating nice horses so when he improves that bit more he's going to be hard to beat."
Bred by Darley, Astoria is the first foal of the talented Ad Valorem mare Segue a half-sister to triple Group I winner Viscount and Listed winner Helsingborg.
Segue's dam Antwerp was a dual Listed winner for Woodland Stud. The impeccably bred daughter of Sir Tristram is a sister ti dual Group I winner Tristalove (the dam of Viking Ruler, Kempinsky, Lovetrista and Diamond Like) and a three-quarter sister to AJC Derby winner Don Eduardo and Peruzzi (the dam of Lucida).
This, of course, is the imperious Eight Carat family featuring many of the greats of the turf including Octagonal.
Segue has a 2yo Exceed And Excel filly named Caesura and a yearling filly by Lonhro.
She was bred back to Medaglia d'Oro last spring.
Astoria becomes the 106th stakes winner for Darley's hugely successful shuttler Medaglia d'Oro who commands a fee of $110,000 this year.
