Kinross (5-1 co-favourite) starred under Frankie Dettori at Haydock Park to land the Betway John Of Gaunt Stakes, the feature of Saturday's racing on Merseyside.
Ralph Beckett’s four-year-old son of Kingman had previously only won twice in nine starts - on his debut and in a Listed contest on the all-weather at Kempton last season.
He had been rated highly early in his career having run at the top level in the Vertem Futurity Trophy, the 2,000 Guineas and the Prix Jean Prat.
But things haven't always gone to plan and he was bought by Marc Chan. And he failed to spark in two runs at the Dubai Carnival at Meydan earlier in the season.
But sent off the 5-1 co-favourite - alongside Many Thanks and Toro Strike - he finally put it all together, landing the Group Three contest in fine style under a typical power-packed Dettori ride.
Initially settled in the middle of the field, Kinross powered clear of his rivals and came home by a comfortable length and a quarter ahead of Irish raider Njord (11-1) with Glorious Journey (11-2) - under Liverpool FC fan William Buick - a further length-and-a-half back in third.
With a maximum allowed 3,000-capacity crowd back at Haydock for the second successive Saturday, Dettori treated his followers to a flying dismount back in the winner's enclosure.
Now connections can look forward to some big targets at the big summer meetings, possibly Royal Ascot next month and Glorious Goodwood later on.
A delighted Dettori said: "He had some good form as a two-year-old. Marc (Chan, owner) bought him with the thought of having a good Carnival in Dubai, but things didn't go his way - he wasn't ready for it.
"Ralph decided to geld him and we didn't know what to expect today, to be honest. His first two runs this year were really bad, so I rode him to run well.
"He got the splits when I wanted them and in fairness he picked up and put the race to bed straight away.
"Prior to the race we were a little bit puzzled, but he showed he's still got ability and we can make a plan."
On the return of racegoers, the popular Italian added: "It was quite weird when I was cantering down to the start for the second race - people on the rail were shouting my name.
"It's something that I wasn't accustomed to for the last 18 months. It's good to have an atmosphere back."
