The lightly raced, Tony McEvoy-trained French import Kourkam ($2 fav) made a most promising Australian debut, recording his first win in five starts. He remained in last place to the 600m and was giving the leader about seven lengths and then commenced to improve. He fanned deep at the home turn, took the lead at the 100m and proved too strong to score by a half-length. It was a good effort and he looks likely to progress to better things. *ANZ