Southern Icon stamped his class and did his Foxbridge Plate and Makfi Challenge Stakes hopes no harm after he exploded away to a thumping win in the $30,000 Group 1 Turf Bar 1200 at Te Rapa on Saturday.

The son of Big Brown was returning to the racetrack for the first time since winning three on the trot in April. It never easy winning four in a row, but the ease of Southern Icon victory on Saturday confirmed the high expectations the connections have on the four-year-old gelding.

Ridden by Mark Hills, Southern Icon sat outside Aaja Nachle (V.Gatu) before striding to the front with 800m to travel. The pair were travelling effortlessly turning for home then strode clear to win by four lengths. Aaja Nachle finished second, with Mr Knowitall (V.Ravikumar) another 1 3/4 length in third. The winning time was 1min 13.21 for the 1200 metres.

Trainer Alan Tait has the Group Two Group Two Lisa Chittick Foxbridge Plate (Aug 13th) here at Te Rapa as his next target and then onto the Group One Makfi Challenge Stakes.

Tait's patience was duly rewarded and the athletic gelding looks a big danger to main contenders for the up-coming majors.

It's no wonder rider Mark Hills has quickly recovered from his small surgery to ride Southern Icon.

"Alan's done a great job with him', Hills said.

Southern Icon is raced by M A Collinson & Mrs G F Tait and has now had 18 starts for seven wins and won more than $100,000 in prizemoney.