Backed as if unbeatable in Friday night's Salsas Chip Burrito Plate at Moonee Valley, the Tony McEvoy-trained Sanctimonious caused some concern when he over-raced in the early stages and looked to be a handful for Craig Williams.
The champion jockey let the strapping son of Foxwedge have his head forcing him three wide for the latter part of the race but Sanctimonious didn't shirk his task in the drive to the line.
A luckless fifth in the Inglis Nursery after a solid debut second at Sandown at his career debut, Sanctimonious gave nothing else a chance here, finishing one and a quarter length to the good of the Helmet filly Metronome with Dream Ahead (USA) colt Firstclass Dreamer three lengths back in third.
"He's a raw horse with really nice ability, very solid and I really like him, Williams said.
"I rode him through the line because I know they have a Sire's (Produce) plan with the horse."
McEvoy said there was plenty to still to come from Sanctimonious.
"The margin wasn't great but he's still learning, and I really commend Craig Williams for his ride there," McEvoy said.
"He was back, the horse wasn't enjoying the pace, so Craig trusted him.
"We discussed before the race he is a big galloping horse. To a lot of purists, it wouldn't have looked a beautiful ride, but it was the right ride for the horse tonight. He will take great benefit from the run.
"Early doors he just didn't look a Blue Diamond style of horse to me. "But a VRC Sires Produce, he'll love Flemington, he'll love the 1400 metres.
"He will go to a 1300 metre at Sandown now then on to the Sires."
A $90,000 purchase by McEvoy Mitchell Racing from the Glastonbury Farms draft at the 2017 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale, Sanctimonious (pictured as a yearling) is the third foal of the Elusive Quality mare Off The Canvas who is a daughter of the Group 1 AJC Champagne Stakes heroine Euphoria (Marauding).
Tony McEvoy signed the ticket for $180,000 for the fourth foal of the Off The Canvas at the recent Magic Millions Yearling sale, a filly from the first crop of Wandjina.
Off The Canvas was covered by Headwater last spring.
