Endless Victory triumphed in the bet365 EBF "Confined" Novice Stakes at Newmarket just in time to secure his spot in a Classic trial.
With Charlie Appleby as his trainer, the son of Teofilo had strong support going into the 10-furlong race and was sent off as the even-money favourite under Godolphin's top rider, William Buick.
After winning his first race at Wolverhampton in the winter, he confirmed that promise by pulling out all the stops Jane Chapple-Hyam's Salamanca by a mere head.
The colt, a full brother of Appleby's Melbourne Cup hero Cross Counter, is entered in the Dante. However, the Moulton Paddocks handler suggested it could be the Lingfield Derby Trial on May 11 that proves his next port of call as he shuffles his swelling Classic hand.
Appleby said: “They’re all in the same boat, he had obviously just won around Wolverhampton (previously) and has come here for his first start on turf. It looked like a sensible race on paper and they are probably a nice field of horses going forward and for our fellow to do what he’s done, I’m very pleased. I think he is a horse that will progress as we go up on trips. Everyone will be asking, is he a Derby horse? Well, he’s still got a bit to do yet and we’ll see how much he improves for this run and whether we look at one of the trials.”