The Immigrant had conditions to his liking at Riverton on Saturday and duly justified the market support that came his way.
The Michael and Matthew Pitman-trained son of the late Tavistock revelled in the heavy ground to score over 1600 metres.
Bred by Gerry Harvey, The Immigrant drifted well back in the field to settle fourth last on the fence before rider Tina Comignaghi angled the five-year-old off the rail 600 metres from home.
When the field fanned out into the straight, they weaved into the clear and the favourite finished doggedly.
“He had been unlucky at his last-start and he’s a real mudlark,” Michael Pitman said.
“Tina has won on him before and she’s ridden for me for a long time. She never panics and is a very good rider.”
The Immigrant was originally purchased out of Westbury Stud’s draft at the 2021 New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale for $160,000 by Tony Pike and had a handful of runs for the Cambridge trainer before relocating south.
He is out of the Redoute’s Choice mare Visa Lisa, who was successful on five occasions and is in foal to Tarzino.
She is a daughter of the Listed Canterbury Stakes winner Bridie Jo and the family of the G2 Matriarch Stakes winner Sutology.