Godolphin's Lonhro colt Marmaris didn't find a lot of love in the betting ring at his first two starts, which included a luckless second at Canterbury at his most recent run.
But punters threw their support behind the dark brown colt in Friday night's Cash At Canterbury Nights Plate (1250m) at Canterbury and he didn't let them down.
Sent straight the front by Tye Angland, Marmaris made every post a winner to defeat Everard (Sebring) by two lengths with Our Dawn (Snitzel) a head back in third.
Winning trainer James Cummings believes the son of Lonhro is up to stakes class.
"He's done a great job. What I loved to see tonight was that he looked to have really enjoyed himself," Cummings said.
"He went along at a nice enough gallop, he had fitness on his side over the concluding stages, his professionalism won him the race.
"We are still working out where he fits in the pecking order. I think he might be a nice seven-furlong Listed two-year-old for us and we might try and a pick a path to a race like the Baillieu.
"He's a beautiful mature colt on an upward spiral."
Bred by Darley, Marmaris is the first foal of the Group III Dark Jewel Classic winner Seaside (Redoute's Choice), who is out of the Group III VRC Thoroughbred Breeders' Stakes winner Living Spirit (Hennessy) who was purchased by Darley for $1.5 million at the 2008 Inglis Easter Broodmare Sale.
Seaside has a yearling filly by Lonhro and a colt foal by Medaglia D'Oro (USA).
She was covered by Shooting To Win last spring.
