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After three thirds in as many starts, strapping galloper My Big Boss got on the board with a stylish win on Sunday.

Trainer Lee Freedman was delighted that first maiden win was finally in the bag, even if it may not have been fashioned out the way he would have preferred.

But a win is a win, and My Big Boss has now taken the Australian handler back to second place on the ladder, one winner behind Shane Baertschiger.

“It was a bit harder work than I would have thought,” he said.

“To be fair, he wants further, but he probably wants to be ridden a bit differently. I think Olivier didn’t want to be in trouble early, and that’s why he was ridden up with the pace.

“Ideally, he should be ridden quieter. He is a big scopy horse at 560kgs and he could be my Mr Clint next year.”

Freedman was of course referring to the Singapore Three-Year-Old Challenge, in which Mr Clint was victorious at the last Leg, the Group 1 Singapore Guineas (1600m) in May.

Placais, who was at his first association with My Big Boss, a three-year-old by Smart Missile, admitted that the forward spot he landed in did cast a few doubts in his mind during the race.

“He scared me a bit. I was too close to the lead,” said the French jockey.

“I didn’t have many choices after jumping from a wide gate (10), but the leader (Qiji Commander) gave up too early, earlier than I expected.

“He was also waiting for the horse (Ararat Lady) coming up on the inside, but luckily, he kept fighting to the line.

“He’s still got a lot to learn. In the parade ring, you could see how green he was.

“I knew I just had to keep him focused. If you work on him the right way, he can do anything.”

Sent out the $8 favourite, My Big Boss looked to have shaken off Qiji Commander (Alysha Collett) when he raced past at the top of the straight, but Cliff Brown’s newcomer Ararat Lady (Amirul Ismadi) came with a stinging challenge on the inside only to come up short by half-a-length.

Qiji Commander ran third another four-and-a-half lengths away. The winning time was 1min 5.63secs for the 1100m on the Polytrack.