The Sebring colt, now trained by Team Hawkes, won the Group 2 Roman Consul Stakes in October in the same conditions he faced on Saturday – a heavy 8 track over 1200m first-up.

Reith said the team would have plenty of fun with him as he develops and becomes more professional. “He’s got a lot of upside because he’s still doing a bit wrong,” Reith said.

“It was a funny-run race. He was on the bit, off the bit, but he’s got the Hawkes polish so you’re always confident. He was taking a while to concentrate on what he was doing, that’s why the blinkers are on, and once he started to pick up top gear, he got them with ease.”

Reith didn’t panic after Sesar got away sluggishly and settled in last place, two lengths behind Almanzora.

“He’s always slow away and Tommy Berry, who trialled him, told me he would probably step slow away but don’t dig into him,” Reith said. “Once we got over the rise (400m) he put them away quickly.”

Stable representative Tania Rouse said despite having to come from behind in testing conditions, Sesar’s class shone through as he beat Boss Lane by 1¾ lengths. His superior turn of foot made all the difference.

“They were going quick enough in front and the instructions to Christian were to just let him travel where he’s comfortable,” Rouse said. “Christian let him go through his gears and I was really happy to see him work through the line. He was travelling at the turn.

“He’s obviously a horse that likes this track, distance and a bit of give in the ground.”

Runner-up Boss Lane continues to turn back the clock on his remarkable career, the veteran gave away weight and time to the winner but refused to surrender without a fight.

Trainer Ron Quinton was delighted with the eight-year-old’s effort once again.

“He ran great the old boy,’’ Quinton said. “Obviously the winner is a very, very promising young horse but out our bloke he did himself proud and was ridden really well as well.

“He has been a wonderful old horse to the stable. I would just love to win that 10th race with him but anyway we’ll keep trying.’’