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Trainer Laurie Laxon predicted a staying future for Sir Oakley after the latter got onto the scoresheet second-up on Sunday afternoon.

Ridden by jockey Danny Beasley in the $65,000 Initiation race over 1400m, the four-year-old son of New Zealand-bred sire Coats Choice asserted his superiority at the 400m to post a 1 ¼-length win from the fast-finishing Pure Rabid (Alan Munro) with even-money favourite Tiger Master(Oscar Chavez) third another head away. The winning time was 1min 24.28secs.

Though he was trapped wide early after jumping from a wide gate, Sir Oakley improved around runners to sit in third one-off before going for broke at the top of the straight. Tiger Master came from the rear to loom as a threat at the 300m but could not peg back the winner and was even pipped for second by the well-tried Pure Rabid.

Sir Oakley ($13) races in the same colours as stablemates Devonshire and Full Toss, the green and blue sash silks of the Patella Racing Stable managed by New Zealand Bloodstock Asian representative Mike Kneebone.

Laxon, who is now only one win (69 wins) adrift of the leader Michael Freedman (70 wins) said the winner’s pedigree suggested he would get even better over more ground.

“The sire (Coats Choice) is doing very well as a sire of middle-distance performers back home,” said the Kiwi handler.

“He is the sire of a very good horse called Milo, who won the Dunedin Guineas (1400m) for trainer Michael Pitman last year.

“I think he will become a stayer. He’s definitely a good horse in the making.”

On his naming, Laxon said the plan was to name him after a brand of sunglasses, but connections added “Sir” after “Oakley” on its own was knocked back.

“He is well named as his dam is called Blue Shades,” said Laxon. “Unfortunately we could not call him Oakley, but Sir Oakley was okay.”

Blue Shades is also the dam of another Kranji-based runner, Solid Impact, a five-time winner (1000m-1600m) in Class 5 company.

Beasley for one thought this half-brother would make the grade to better class.

“We were drawn wide, but luckily we were able to get a pretty good position by the first turn,” said the Australian rider.

“He gave a very strong kick and won quite easily. What he did today was just on raw ability.

“He could be a good stayer in the making.”