Gai Waterhouse has no doubt Ecuador can measure up to the major staying races this spring.

Her challenge is to get Wednesday's Canterbury winner into them.

The lightly raced gelding turned in the most impressive performance on the midweek program, scoring a commanding four-length victory in the Grace Removals Handicap (1550m).

While he was the fourth leader to win in five races, he did it the hard way after being pressured early and still managing to accelerate away from his rivals when he balanced up for jockey James McDonald.

"He's a really good horse in the making. They don't win like that," Waterhouse said.

"I think he needs further. I've got him heading to some of the majors but my biggest job is to get him qualified."

Ecuador holds nominations for the Epsom and Metropolitan Handicaps in Sydney along with the Cox Plate and Caulfield and Melbourne Cups.

Waterhouse is yet to decide her next move but nothing is off the table, including sending him straight to Victoria without another Sydney run.

The four-year-old is by noted sire of stayers High Chaparral and the Canterbury win was his second from six starts.

Also looking to one of the majors in Melbourne is Anthony Cummings following the win by Shine On in the Become An ATC Sponsor Handicap (1550m).

Cummings believes the three-year-old has the potential to develop into a Victoria Derby contender but concedes he will need more distance to be competitive at the top level.

The trainer won last year's spring Derby with Fiveandahalfstar and says Shine On's form is better than his stablemate's at the corresponding time 12 months ago.

"He's done more than Fiveandahalfstar had done at the same time last year," Cummings said.

"He may go to the Derby if his form warrants it but he is going to need that sort of trip if he is going to step up to that grade.

"But he has broken his maiden today in a way that suggests there is more to come."

Shine On settled midfield in the seven-horse field and dived between runners late to score by a head over Electric Dee Jay.

John O'Shea also produced an impressive winner in filly More Than Faith who outgunned the older mares to land her second win from three starts in the Ranvet Handicap (1200m).