Italian Derby placegetter Ancient King has claimed his first Australian win at Flemington and will be back to chase a second over the Melbourne Cup course next start.

The Peter Moody-trained Ancient King ($3.60) stepped out for his fourth Australian run since being imported from Italy and prevailed in a driving finish to Saturday's Momentum Energy SmilePower Trophy (2800m).

The four-year-old held off a determined challenge from $2.60 favourite Shoreham to win by a head and the pair are likely to clash again in a fortnight in the Listed Andrew Ramsden Stakes (3200m).

Wells ($26) battled on well in the straight for third, another half length away.

Ancient King finished third in last year's Italian Derby before joining Moody's team along with the Derby runner-up Wish Come True which finished fifth in its Australian debut in an 1800-metre handicap earlier on the Flemington program.

Ancient King had been narrowly beaten by Gotta Take Care and Unchain My Heart in a 2600-metre Flemington race and Moody's stable representative Zach I'Anson said they were confident the gelding was ready to break through.

"His trackwork has been excellent to say the least," I'Anson said.

"He's done well since his last run and we came here very confident he was going to run really well.

"We'll look to go to the two-mile race here in a fortnight now."