A determined Hallowed Crown has come out on top in a race that could set the tone for the rest of the autumn.

Saturday's Group Two Hobartville Stakes (1400m) at Rosehill boasted four Group One winners including the Bart and James Cummings-trained Hallowed Crown.

The colt was having his first start since his only defeat in the Roman Consul Stakes in October after his Golden Rose win.

His task seemed forlorn after he was shut out of a run at the top of the straight and had to come up the inside.

But under vigorous riding from Hugh Bowman, Hallowed Crown ($5.50) raised an effort in the final 100m to get the decision over Sweynesse ($8.50) by a half neck.

Kermadec ($10) finished another half-head third with favourite Shooting To Win ($3.60) a close fourth.

"You don't get given these races and he has proved what a good colt he is by beating a star-studded line-up," James Cummings said.

"Hugh Bowman is a tenacious jockey and Hallowed Crown is the most determined horse I've seen.

"There's not much between those horses and he is a winner. He just turns up on race day and I came here with confidence."

While many of his opposition will be heading towards the ATC Australian Derby, Bowman believes Hallowed Crown's best distance will be 1600m.

"I'm thinking he is a miler," he said.

"He is a very exciting colt and he's a winner.

"Although I didn't get the run I was going for, I lost no momentum and he did the job."

Many of the same horses will line up again in the Group One Randwick Guineas (1600m) in two weeks.

"We will go to the Guineas and then I don't think he would be out of place in the George Ryder at weight-for-age," Cummings said.

"He is building a profile. When you find a good colt you have to look after them and place them well.

"Not many horses have a record of five wins from six starts and we want to add to that."

Hallowed Crown will eventually stand at Darley Stud with Sheikh Mohammed buying into him after the Golden Rose.

The other partner is Gooree Park Stud, the Australian operation of Eduardo Cojuangco, grandfather of Cummings's wife Monica.