Vatican is blessed with a brilliant turn of foot and that helped him score a breakthrough victory in the LR Doveton Stakes (1000m) on Saturday.

The son of Greta West Stud sire God’s Own had saluted 7 times in 33 starts before claiming his first black-type win under 60kg at Caulfield.  Trainer Byron Cozamanis is now considering a Group 1 assault on the Oakleigh Plate in February.

“He’s getting better all the time and Michael (Rodd) rated him well in front today,” Cozamanis claimed.   “He’s not a very big horse but is always being asked to shoulder big weights.”

Vatican (5g God’s Own – Our Sistine by Peintre Celebre) has earned over $510,000 for his connections.  Makybe breeder Tony Santic kept a share after selling him for $90,000 at the 2010 Inglis Melbourne Premier yearling sale.

He is also a stable favourite after winning a Mazda for Cozamanis at Moonee Valley in February.  The car was a reward for creating a new 955m course record of 54.69s in the Essendon Mazda Challenge.

Rodd confirmed Saturday’s pre-race plan was to take a sit but Vatican was determined to lead.  “I wasn’t going to hand up once we got to the front,” he said.  “He showed his class and put them away in the straight.”

Vatican’s dam Our Sistine died shortly after foaling a Stryker filly late last year.  Her older half-brother King’s Chapel was NZ Horse of the Year in 2004.

The Doveton Stakes result helped God’s Own consolidate third spot among Victorian based sires for this season’s premiership behind Reset and Bel Esprit.

God’s Own (Redoute’s Choice) stands for a $5,500 (inc gst) fee at Greta West Stud.