Chris Symons rated himself a fortunate rider and a lousy tipster after guiding Nisos to an overdue win at Caulfield on Saturday.

Symons said he had ridden Nisos in the horse's first race start at Bairnsdale in May last year and had predicted a bright future for the gelding.

"He finished second last in a maiden at Bairnsdale, but I told his trainer he'd definitely win some races," Symons said.

"But it's taken him 12 starts and more than a year and I think he was lucky to win anyway. I might not be a real good judge."

In defence of Nisos, he took on some of the best staying three-year-olds last spring in a campaign that took him to the Victoria Derby in which he finished 12th to Fiveandahalfstar.

In four starts this time in Nisos ($9) showed steady improvement and was at his peak on Saturday to win the Ascend Sales Handicap (2000m) by a long head from the luckless Ava's Delight ($5.50).

Use The Lot ($18) led and battled on for third a further 1-1/4 lengths away.

While Symons had all the breaks out wide on Nisos, Jake Duffy on the runner-up ran into a series of dead-ends in the straight and then lost an iron as he attempted to drive his horse out to the line.