The early action at Sunday’s Te Rapa race-meeting served up a pair of three-year-olds that could well command closer attention over the coming months.

Debutant Surely Sacred created a good impression when he sat three-wide throughout before claiming the opening event over 1200m.

“He is a very attractive horse who had trialled up nicely coming into today,” trainer Tony Pike said.

“The wide gate was always going to be a trap so it was a good effort to sit three-deep on debut, without cover, and get up in what was a pretty handy three-year-old maiden.

“He’s still a bit green but once he steps up over further, he is going to be even better.”

Carrying the Raffles Racing colours, the Rock ‘n’ Pop gelding holds a nomination for the Gr.1 Levin Classic (1600m) at Trentham in January.

Out of the handy racemare Not Sure, Surely Sacred was a $160,000 purchase from the Waikato Stud Premier draft during the 2017 Yearling Sales series at Karaka.