The Redoute's Choice debutant Mig Energy was unloved in the betting for Saturday's Essendon Mitsubishi Handicap (1000m) at Moonee Valley, although by the time he was being led back to the winner's stall, the Brent Stanley-trained gelding was being touted as a Caulfield Guineas chance.
Ridden by Luke Currie, Mig Energy tracked the early speed but was bottled up between runners in the straight.
By the time Currie had found some clear air, the favourite All In Brawl looked to be making a winning run down the centre of the track.
Mig Energy reeled in All Brawl (War) in impressive fashion to win by a neck with Jimenez (Bel Esprit) one and a half lengths back in third. (photos Grant Courtney)
Currie said he was surprised by how forward Mig Energy was.
"I couldn't hold him slow enough. He was on their backs on the corner and all he needed was an out and when he did he attacked the line," he said.
Stanley said he thought the son of Redoute's Choice was going well enough to be a winning chance on debut.
"Luke does a lot of riding for me but he hadn't been on this fellow's back and it didn't surprise me," Stanley said.
"I thought 1200 metres would suit him better but he is a pretty smart minded horse.
"I didn't hide him from anyone, I put his trial up on Facebook this morning where he won by three lengths last week.
"The owners are from Hong Kong so it's good to get a result for them. They have had two horses race with me, The August and this bloke.
"He will have to keep improving. He squeezed himself a couple of times so we had to geld him and he's come back a pretty smart horse. Seven furlongs to a mile will be the ideal distance so he will make the grade and this is the time of year to be in."
A $350,00 purchase by Cloud 9 Thoroughbreds out of the Segenhoe draft at the 2017 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale, Mig Energy is out of the placed Hifalutin (Peintre Celebre) who is a half-sister to Listed Hobart Guineas winner Reprisal (Galileo) and the stakes-placed performers Europa Point (Rock Of Gibraltar) and Pickin' Time (Fastnet Rock).
(Read More About Mig Energy's Pedigree Here)
Runner-up in the Group III WATC Champion Fillies Stakes, Hifalutin had for foals before she died back in February 2017 after producing another colt foal by the Arrowfield legend Redoute's Choice, who was sold to Gangemi Racing for $170,000 out of the Amelia Park draft at the 2018 Perth Magic Millions Yearling Sale.
