Having become just the second Australian winner for his sire Palace Pier (GB) when breaking his maiden recently, the Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou trained Southend now holds the honour of becoming the first stakes winner for his sire, remaining unbeaten by winning the $250,000 G3 ATC Baillieu (1400m) at Rosehill.

Settling in a mid-field position after a good get away from barrier 5 in the 13 horse field, the Dylan Gibbons ridden Southend was content to race a little wide with nice pace being put on by leader Anthropoid (Prague).

Gibbons decided to get going before the home turn, coming even wider into the straight as Godolphin’s Hardanger went up along the inside to challenge the leader.

Pulling away with the race favourite Persian Wonder who was on his inside at the 200m mark, it was clear Southend was travelling better as the colt went clear to win the race by a little over a length from David Payne’s Persian Wonder.

Working home well for third in a run that would suggest further is wanted, the John Thompson trained Nomadic, a King's Legacy half-brother to recent G1 Randwick Guineas winner Sheza Alibi, looks one who could be followed.

With the last two winners of the Baillieu, Nepotism and Linebacker going on to record G1 success after their Baillieu victories, it will be interesting to see how far the Palace Pier colt can progress with it likely he will now head to the G1 Champagne Stakes (1600m) if he pulls up well.

Co-trainer Gerlad Ryan was quite open on his high opinion of the colt after his debut win, and those thoughts were still just as strong.

“Very good horse I think, we’ve had a good opinion of him all the way along,” said Ryan. “We loved him at the sales, we sat back for four days and bought him on the Friday night. I think he’s a really good horse.”

As for where he may head next, it will all depend on how he pulls up.

“That’s always been the plan. To go to Newcastle, here today, and if it looks as though he’s had enough we’ll stop him. If not, he’ll go the Champagne in three weeks.”