Glen Boss declared Chivalry the best colt in Victoria after an impressive first-up win in the McNeil Stakes on Saturday.

The Mark Kavanagh-trained Chivalry stepped out for his seasonal return in the Group Three 1200-metre race for three-year-olds at Caulfield and posted his first stakes win with a brilliant finish.

“He’s a serious, serious colt,” Boss said.

“As good as I’ve ridden for a while. That’s a big statement, I know, but just wait until he gets out over a bit further.”

Chivalry ($7.50) raced four times as a juvenile, winning at Moonee Valley at his second start before an eye-catching placing in the Blue Diamond Prelude.

He was spelled after a midfield finish in the Blue Diamond and his winning return has stamped his Caulfield Guineas claims.

The son of Street Cry settled at the back of the field before sprinting down the outside to defeat Nordic Empire ($10) by a head with Awesome Rock ($9) also turning in a promising first-up run to finish a half-neck away third.

“He was very vulnerable here today. I can only imagine what he’s going to do second and third up,” Boss said.

Kavanagh said Chivalry had made improvement from his two-year-old season.

“When he was two (years old) he had it stamped on him that he was going to be a good three-year-old. He’s had the time and he did the job today,” Kavanagh said.

Kavanagh said the colt would next go to the Henry Bucks Stakes at Flemington.

The Caulfield Guineas is the obvious spring target and Kavanagh believes he will be better as he steps up in trip.

“I think he’s pretty good,” Kavanagh said.

“He was obviously better than any of those horses today.

“We’ve got to wait and see what else is around and what comes along. But certainly he was pretty impressive today.”