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Classy sprinter Snapper (NZ) (Power) continued his rise through the grades with an impressive front-running performance to claim a first black-type win in Saturday's A$250,000 Group Three Standish Handicap (1200m) at Flemington.

Bought by Paul Moroney Bloodstock and Ballymore Stables for $60,000 from Book 1 of Karaka 2019, the gelding has now earned A$463,988 – more than eight times his purchase price.

Group Three-placed in New Zealand as a two-year-old, Snapper has since made his mark across the Tasman with six wins. On Saturday he ticked the black type box for the first time, giving the Mike Moroney stable some confidence to target even bigger and better things in the weeks and months ahead.

"It was a good effort today," assistant trainer Glen Thompson said. "He was a bit below par last time, and Mike thought he might have been a little bit underdone. He had him spot on today.

"His work was enormous on Tuesday, and we've seen the best of him today. He won multiple races last preparation, and he's come back very well this time.

"He's well above average and is going to go through the grades and probably end up in better races than this."

Snapper led every step of the way in Saturday's Standish, never giving any of his rivals a look in.

He briefly looked vulnerable coming into the final 150 metres, but lifted again to score by three-quarters of a length despite jockey Jye McNeil losing his whip.

"He had quite an easy time of it in front, and he got into a really good rhythm, which allowed us to do that," McNeil said. "He was presented in great order today and raced accordingly.

"The connections were a little bit unsure about him down the straight here at Flemington today, so I had it in the back of my mind not to feel for him too soon.

"I ended up dropping my whip and making a bit of a mess of things near the end, but we got the number in the frame and that's the main thing. By that point of the race, he was holding them very well anyway."

Snapper was bred by the late, great Sir Patrick Hogan in partnership with his wife Lady Justine. By former shuttle stallion Power, Snapper is out of Onlyarose (NZ) (One Cool Cat), who won four races and placed in the Listed Newmarket Handicap (1200m) and Listed Lightning Handicap (1200m).