Morning Darling had to make a wide from off midfield but was still far too good as he posted his second for the campaign at Ararat on Saturday.
The four-year-old covered plenty of ground in the Carlton Draught 0-58 (1106m) but made it look easy as he coasted to the line under a hold to score.
A raging 2.05 favourite and ridden by Mitch Aitken, Morning Darling beat Cordiality ($8) and Superior Force ($21) by 1-1/2 lengths.
The gelding has been remarkably consistent since joining the Malady stable last preparation, finishing no worse than fourth in his 10 runs with the team.
Last preparation he had six starts for a half-length second at Ballarat, plus three thirds and two fourths and this campaign has two wins, a second and fourth from four starts.
“You just know you are going to get an honest run from him when he goes to the races,” trainer Vincent Malady said.
“He was very good first-up when he won his maiden at Benalla in February and was beaten less than a length at his next two starts at Kyneton and Geelong.
“He did it the hard way from his wide draw today and when he came around them on the home turn he was always going to be hard to beat.
“When he hit the front Mitch looked after him in the closing stages and he won well.”
Owners John and Helen McPhee bred Morning Darling who is by Love Conquers All and the first foal from dual city winner Native Land and is the grand-son of Group 3 winner Fuss who was placed in both the Mornington Cup and Geelong Oaks Trial Stakes.