Third behind Mongolian Khan and Volkstok'n'barrell in the 2015 NZ Derby, the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott trained Dee I Cee failed beat a runner home in his final race of last season and the result was the same when making his seasonal debut over 1400 metres at Rosehill on August 12.
Not surprisingly, he went to the post in Saturday's Listed Premier's Cup (1900m) at Rosehill as a $41 shot.
With a solid pace on from the start, Rachel King elected to go back on Dee I Cee as Classic Uniform and Broadside took up the running.
Dee I See was travelling sweetly and when King asked for the supreme effort, the son of Istidaad (USA) put the race to bed in a matter of strides.
He came clear to defeat Classic Uniform (Al Maher) by two and a quarter lengths with Centre Pivot a long-neck back in third. (photos Steve Hart
It was his first win for the current connections. His previous best was when second to Sacred Master in last year's Newcastle Gold Cup before finishing midfield in Sir John Hawkwood's Group I ATC Metropolitan.
Those two races are on the agenda for the 6yo gelding again this year.
"It's been a long time coming for him, unfortunately," Bott
said.
"He showed great staying ability over in New Zealand when we purchased him.
"I think he finished third in the (NZ) derby over there but it has taken a long time to get him in this form. We've been very patient with him so hopefully it's starting to pay dividends.
"He ran a great race in the Newcastle Cup last year before the Metropolitan so we will follow a similar path this year."
A bargain basement $1,000 purchase as a weanling, Dee I Cee made $6,000 more when reoffered at the 2013 NZB Ready To Run Sale.
With his first stakes victory, Dee I Cee advances his record to 3 wins, 5 seconds and 2 thirds from 16 starts with earnings of $238,816.
A son of the Group I Australian Cup winner Istidaad, Dee I Cee is a half-brother to the 4-time winner Designated Driver (Danroad) who was runner-up in the Group I WRC Telegraph Handicap.
Dee I Cee is the seventh live foal of his dam Smashed All Night (Night Shift) who is a half-sister to the dams of the dual Listed stakes winners Russian Playmate (Dr Johnson) and Daniel (Guillotine).
Smashed All Night died three years after producing Dee I Cee and did not leave another live foal.
