Top weight no burden for Tiger Of Malay in Up and Coming Stakes victory at Kembla Grange

The three-year-old was both the top weight and favourite for the feature at the relocated meeting, jockey James McDonald guiding his mount along the fence after jumping from barrier one.

Read more: Markwell mare superb in defeat at Kembla Grange

It proved a wise move, Tiger Of Malay edging Chris Waller's Coastwatch by a nose, Peter and Paul Snowden's Construct third by a long head.

The colt was one of four China Horse Club-Newgate runners in the race, with Kiama breeder Matthew Sandblom also a part owner in the quartet that finished first, third, sixth and eighth.

The victory marks Tiger Of Malay's second black-type triumph after he won the Group 2 Sires Produce at Eagle Farm in May.

A hugely talented two-year-old, Freedman stable representative Sophie Johnson said the colt has returned an even better horse as a three-year-old.

"He's one tough cookie," Johnson told Sky Racing. "He's come back bigger and stronger this time around. It was a big ask of him and James rode him spot on. He had a little bit of a struggle there where he got a little bit stuck, couldn't find a gap, but perfect.

"It's a nice race to start off the spring campaign. We'll take him home, see how he's pulled up and go on from there. It's a great start for a promising spring."

Tiger Of Malay's victory came over 1300m and it's likely he will continue to build as the spring progresses.

McDonald is confident the colt will be even better over distance, with the 1400m Group 1 Golden Rose Stakes a potential target in late September.

From there, a mile could prove Tiger Of Malay's best distance and the jockey expects the horse to challenge for the big three-year-old features in the coming months.

"Today was a perfect kickoff point," McDonald said. "I reckon six (furlongs), they would've just went a little bit quick for him. I know 1300 and 1200 doesn't sound much, but he got in his comfort zone very quickly.

"When he stretches to a mile, he's going to come into his own. He's got a good bit of length, accelerates and sustains a gallop, nice horse over a mile."

Tiger Of Malay's triumph came on a day of high-quality racing at Kembla Grange, Sydney's COVID outbreak seeing the meeting shifted south.

That saw some of the sport's top horses travel to the Illawarra and they did not disappoint. With a firm track beneath them, four track records were broken across the 10 races.

Frosty Rocks set the new 1400m mark, claiming the Spring Preview in a blistering time of 1:21.85.

Trainer Bjorn Baker has steadily progressed the five-year-old through the grades during his career and the gelding has now opened his spring campaign with back-to-back city wins.

Baker believes the time is right to step up to a stakes race and jockey Joshua Parr is confident Frosty Rocks is ready to make the leap.

"He's definitely a more mature horse," Parr told Sky Racing. "The patience shown by the stable to get him to this point and they're reaping the rewards now.

"He's ready to take the next step, hopefully he's up to that level."

The Illawarra Mercury news app is now officially live on both iOS and Android devices. It is available for download in the Apple Store and Google Play.