Cambridge trainer Murray Baker believes Serpent will show his true ability when stepped up over a middle distance.

“He’s a horse that’s needed time and I think he’ll be better over mnore ground,” he said.

The lightly-tried Serpent credited Goodwood Stud resident Chinese Dragon with his second winner at Pukekohe today.

At just his fourth appearance, the three-year-old led all the way to post a clear-cut victory over 1600 metres.

“He was a bit unclucky at Tauranga last time and never got a run at them,” Baker said.

Bred by Goodwood and raced by Scott Richardson Bloodstock, the chestnut is out of the Irish-bred mare Twizzle.

A daughter of Arazi, she is from a well-performed European black type family