Dropping back in distance from his debut run over 1100m was a question mark for Sonofkirk, but the promising Ole Kirk colt silenced any doubts with a brilliant closing effort to win at Caulfield on Saturday.

After placing third behind Miss Ole—another son of Ole Kirk—at Flemington first-up, betting site favourite Sonofkirk ($4.20) again jumped slowly. But under a patient ride from Jye McNeil, he weaved his way through the field from last to snatch victory by a long head over Oyster Lane ($5.50), with a significant 2-1/4 length margin back to Life After Love ($71) in third place.

Stable representative Billie Rodda admitted they were hoping for a sharper getaway from barrier three, but said they hadn’t done any special barrier work in the lead-up.

“We purely put it down to just rawness and being his first start,” Rodda said.

“We came here today in hope that he’d probably jump a little bit better. Unfortunately, he didn’t, but it didn’t matter in the end.”

Looking ahead, the stable expects Sonofkirk to improve over longer trips and is eyeing early spring options as he transitions to his three-year-old campaign.

“It was a phenomenal win. He showed a super turn of foot,” Rodda said.

“We just wanted to see him do something like that in which he has, so I’m not sure what the plan going forward is yet.

“We’ll get him home and ensure that he’s pulled up right, but he’s a lovely two-year-old to be taking into the spring races as an early three-year-old.”

Jye McNeil, recently back from a break, noted the start didn’t unfold as planned but was impressed with how Sonofkirk finished off.

“I was more hopeful that it was just a bit of greenness at his first start and that he’s more educated from that,” McNeil said.

“His reaction time was a little bit slow, but even his first few strides he just had no speed over 1000 (metres).

“I told the owners we were going to be on speed and be a good chance, and here we were near last, sort of ducking and weaving, but thankfully he was well enough equipped to go on and win the race.”

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