On the day Darley announced the passing of the great Octagonal it was fitting that the first stakes race on Caulfield Cup day should fall to a colt by Occy's best son Lonhro.
Part of a three-pronged attack by Godolphin in $120,000 Listed Polytrack Gothic Stakes (1400m), Peacock was the outsider of the three but received all the favours in the run courtesy of another top ride by Dwayne Dunn.
A Randwick winner from five starts, the son of Lonhro was coming off a third in the Listed Poseidon Stakes (1400m) at Flemington.
Hitting the front 100 metres out, Peacock held off the fast-finishing Violate (Sebring) by a short half-head with the $2.60 favourite Acatour (Sebring) a half-length away third. (photos Grant Courtney)
It was the first stakes win for the John O'Shea-trained colt who may now target the $150,000 Listed Hilton Stakes (1400m) on the final day of the Flemington carnival.
"We came here thinking he would be very hard to beat because he's going to get a gun run and that's the way it panned out," O'Shea said.
"It was a wonderful ride by Dwayne.
"He'll go to the Hilton Stakes on the last day.I think seven (furlongs) is the upper limit of his distance range."
Stablemates Morton's Fork (5th) and Trenchant (7th) had little luck and O'Shea said that pair would contest the 2016 Carbine Club Stakes on Victoria Derby Day.
In becoming the 66th stakes winner for Lonhro, Peacock adds to his stallion appeal as he is the first foal of his Melbourne winning dam Iridescente (Commands), a half-sister to Hong Kong's champion sprinter Absolute Champion (Marauding) and the Group 1 South African Derby winner Wylie Hall (Redoute's Choice).
She was bred b ack to the champion son of Octagonal again last spring.