The Ben Foote-trained Principle (NZ) (Pins) broke through for his maiden victory at the second time of asking at Matamata on Thursday when taking out the Carrfields Livestock Matamata 1600.
The son of Pins settled towards the rear of the field for in-form Jason Waddell after jumping away from his outside barrier.
Waddell asked his charge to improve three-wide at the 700m mark and took the lead with 400m to go. The pair attained a three length gap on their rivals when turning for home and sustained their run to win by 4-3/4 lengths.
Principle carried home the colours of bloodstock agent Jen Campin who was still on a high after Wyndspelle (NZ) (Iffraaj) recorded his first Group One victory in the Captain Cook Stakes (1600m) at Trentham earlier this month.
Campin eluded that Waddell had planned to take a front-running role in the race.
“We did have a chat earlier, before he went out, and he (Waddell) wanted to take him up front early,” Campin said.
“He is a horse who really needs to be ridden cold, so it proved today that he could go the distance and it was an impressive run.”
Principle was purchased out of the Book 2 session of the 2018 New Zealand Bloodstock Yearling Sale from the draft of Hyde Park.
Meanwhile, Campin said the decision has been made to take a patient approach with Wyndspelle.
“We discussed it with our trainers (Johno Benner and Hollie Wynyard) this morning.
“Because Wyndspelle always comes first, we have decided to skip the Cambridge Stud Zabeel Classic (Gr.1, 2000m) and we will keep him ticking over nicely and head for the Thorndon Mile (Gr.1, 1600m) on January 18.”
