Pounamu scored a career highlight win when defeating Material Man in the Group 1 Kingston Town Stakes on November 25 and the pair were at it again in Saturday's $400,000 Group II Ted Van Heemst Stakes (2100m) at Ascot but the result was the same.
Given an enterprising ride by Lucy Warwick, Material Man took up the running, however, Pat Carbery on Pounamu was never going to let him get too far out of range.
Material Man clung stubbornly to his lead down the straight before succumbing to Pounamu in the closing stages.
Racing in career best form, the 6yo grey son of Authorized (IRE) won by a long-neck from Material Man (Vital Equine) with four lengths back to Zarantz (Choisir) who edged Cosmic Storm for third.
"He raced a little handier than I thought but that was the spot to be, never let them get too far away," winning trainer Alan Mathews said.
"It's a WFA race worth a fair bit of money now. He'll go to the (Perth) Cup but if he wasn't to win you wouldn't be disappointed with his performances this time in.
"He's just got his head around it and is in a good spot."
Banished to Perth after failing to win in 13 starts in Sydney, Pounamu advances his record to 10 wins, 7 seconds and 6 thirds from 38 starts with earnings of $1,364,530.
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.
