New Zealand Group One winner Atlante has made a perfect start for the Hawkes Racing stable in the Listed Drummond Golf Stakes at Moonee Valley.

Formerly trained by Murray Baker, Atlante was transferred to the Hawkes Racing team after a Sydney autumn campaign.

He kicked off in the 1200-metre sprint on Saturday and after settling behind the lead, he lifted to beat Trust In A Gust by a short half-head.

Lucky Hussler finished strongly to be a long neck away third.

Atlante won the NZ 2000 Guineas last November before embarking on a Sydney autumn campaign which started with a second in the Hobartville Stakes before unplaced runs in the Randwick Guineas, Tulloch Stakes and All Aged Stakes.

Co-trainer Wayne Hawkes said he was still learning about Atlante but was happy the horse could start off on a winning note.

"He won the Group One in New Zealand and they were obviously after some black type in Australia," Hawkes said.

"We got the first goal out of the road."

Hawkes said they had not decided on a spring path for the son of Fastnet Rock.

Dwayne Dunn had not ridden Atlante before Saturday, but the early Melbourne premiership leader brought up a winning double on the entire after a victory on Wrotham Heath.

"He's got a lot of talent. He's really raw and still has plenty to improve on from that," Dunn said.

Meanwhile, the Aaron Purcell-trained import St Jean boosted his spring claims with a determined win over Pyrollic in Saturday's Sportingbet Handicap (1600m).

Five-year-old St Jean is set to head to the Group Three Naturalism Stakes (2000m) at Caulfield next, with the winner of that race securing automatic entry in the Caulfield Cup.