The John Moloney-trained gelding Dornier showed a superior turn of foot to land his first stakes win in the $200,000 Listed VRC St Leger (2800m) at Flemington on Anzac Day.
Settled back in last by apprentice Jordan Childs, Dornier moved into a challenging position on the home turn.
The son of Artie Schiller (USA) breezed to a clear lead at the 250 metres and looked set for an easy win.
As Dornier began to shorten stride, Parthesia (Raise The Flag), who had been caught behind runners when Dornier made his move, began to rally but was a half-head short on the line.
High Mode (Redwood) was one and a quarter lengths back in third.
"He just shows no speed from the barriers," Childs said. When he has such a rest early you are able to come out and do a bit of work late and to the horse's credit he was tough right to the line."
With just a maiden stakes win to his credit from his previous 9 starts, Dornier advances his record to 2 wins and 1 third from 10 starts with earnings of $170,730.
"He has been working up to this, Maloney said. He has been a bit under the radar but he does like the ground and that's the feature of being able to stay.
"Dad won the race with Epidaurus in 1970 and Gerrard won with a horse called Teddy Bear (2000). Gerrard put it on me to do something today."
Jordan Childs father Greg, won the St Leger on Sunday Gold in 1999.
A homebred for the Sampson and Taite families, Dornier is the fifth foal and fourth winner out of the former smart
Winner of the Listed Hobart Guineas, Deloraine placed in the Group I Coolmore Classic and the Group II Moonee Valley Oaks.
Deloraine has an unraced 2yo colt by Hinchinbrook named The Regiment.
Her colt foal by Wandjima died after birth and Deloraine was covered by Written Tycoon last season.
Dornier becomes the 35th stakes winner for Emirate Park Stud's Artie Schiller (USA) (picture by Mark Smith) who covered 110 mares in his first season in the Hunter Valley last spring at a fee of $22,000.
