Shangri La Boy, a half-brother to former boom two-year-old Storm Boy, continued to build his own reputation with a dominant win in Saturday’s $500,000 Group 3 Gloaming Stakes (1800m) at Rosehill Gardens for trainers Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott.

The son of Pierro ($4.60) showed strong staying potential, leading from start to finish to defeat longshot The Pearls ($61) by two lengths, with San Giovanni ($20) another neck away in third. His next target is the $2 million Group 1 Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) at Royal Randwick in two weeks’ time — a logical progression for the well-bred colt.

“He’s obviously got some great true staying capabilities there,” co-trainer Adrian Bott said. “Storm Boy’s a great sprinter, but this horse in his own right is a very good stayer because he’s come to this level very quickly in his career. This is his first preparation, just his third start, so to get up to 1800m and win like that is certainly encouraging.”

Bott said he always viewed Shangri La Boy as a natural stayer. “In fairness, he’s looked that way right from the outset,” he said. “Being by Pierro, we thought he might be more of a classic type, but even as a yearling he had the shape and temperament of a stayer.”

As for whether the colt will head to the Spring Champion, Bott said the horse’s performance had made the decision for him. “I think we have to, the manner in which he won that,” he said. “It was a big test — 1400m up to 1800m on a quick turnaround — and he handled it perfectly.”

Regular jockey Adam Hyeronimus, who has partnered the colt in all his trials and starts, was again full of praise. “He finds his rhythm straight away,” Hyeronimus said. “He’s good from the gates, relaxed throughout, and he’s got a sharp turn of foot too.”

Shangri La Boy now sits at $6 equal second favourite for the Spring Champion Stakes, behind Attica ($3.50) in early markets. For betting odds and offers on the race, visit Australia’s best betting sites.