Jason Warren was confident the fitness of The Barrister would be a telling factor at Mornington on Saturday.

And he was right as the two-year-old held on to score his first win in a $100,000 race.

The Barrister and favourite Eolande ($3.20) both went into the Mornington Sires' (1500m) with three runs under their belt this campaign and were the most experienced horses in the race.

Jockey Ben Melham was happy to take The Barrister to the lead with Eolande keeping him close by before Melham started to increase the pace.

The Barrister, backed from $13 to $8.50, kicked more than a length clear on straightening and then held off a late charge from the favourite to win by a short half-head.

They cleared out with first starter Alittle Loose ($6) doing her best work late for third, another 2-1/2 lengths away.

Warren said The Barrister appeared a jump-and-run two-year-old early in the spring when he had one start but has since changed into more of a miler.

This prompted Warren to target Saturday's race fourth-up with fitness on his side.

"We were happy to lead knowing we had the rock-hard fit horse," Warren said.

The Barrister is likely to be sent for a spell with a view to the spring.