Pounamu had 13 starts in New South Wales without breaking his maiden and there were few tears shed when he made the long trip to Perth after trailing the field home in the 2015 Group 1 Rosehill Guineas won by Volkstok'n'barrell.
Not that the son of Epsom Derby winner Authorized was without ability.
He had placed in the Group III Spring Stakes at Newcastle and the Group III Gloaming Stakes at Rosehill Gardens.
It took him just one start to shed his maiden status in his new home for trainer Alan Mathews.
Patrick Carberry was on him that day as he has for all bar one of his next 23 starts.
A listed stakes winner in February, Pounamu broke through for his first Group win on November 4 in the Group III Asian Beau Stakes at Ascot.
The 6yo grey gelding prepped for Saturday's Group 1 Kingston Town Classic with a close-up sixth in the Group 1 Railway Stakes.
Settled back in the rear half of the field by Carberry, Pounamu came with a barnstorming finish to defeat Material Man (Vital Equine) by a half-length with 3yo gelding Acherner Star (Gingerbread Man) a half-head back in third. (photos Perth Racing )
It was a Wipeout for the eastern state invaders with It's Somewhat in fifth, Black Heart Bart (ninth) and Tom Melbourne (11th).
Pounamu advances his record to 9 wins, 7 seconds and 6 thirds from 37 starts with earnings of $1,122,530.
"He has been a work in progress. He won a couple of races here and was then the biggest bridesmaid in West Australia.," Mathews said.
"He finally got his around what we wanted him to do. He's has a trouble-free run, it's just wonderful.
"We've always said he has the ability, but he didn't have the concentration span to get his head around to doing it at the right time.
"We set this horse up for the race. Second up into the Railway and third up into this, it's all gone to plan."
Carrying the black with silver fern colours of his breeder John Thompson, Pounamu is the first foal of the winning Street Cry (IRE) mare Tangiwai who sadly died in October last year.
Tangiwai was a daughter of the Kenmare mare Lahar who also carried the Thompson silks with distinction.
The winner of the Listed STC Christmas Cup, Lahar placed in both the Group 1 Sydney Cup and Group 1 Melbourne Cup.
Also, the dam of 4-time winner Kokopu (Medaglia d'Oro) and the unraced 3yo filly Weeping Waters, Tangiwai has just one more foal in the pipeline, a 2yo filly also by Medaglia d'Oro (USA).
Pounamu becomes the fifth Group 1 winner for former Darley Stud's Authorized (Montjeu) who shuttled for four seasons, the last in 2012.
