Stephen Theodore has never hidden his admiration for Crack A Roadie and the colt lived up to his trainer's expectations with a fast-finishing victory at Moonee Valley on Saturday.

The Charge Forward colt, having his first start, came from off the speed in the $250,000 Inglis Banner (1000m) to open Cox Plate day with a short-half head win over Diva Dee with two lengths to Shamus Award third.

"It was a huge win but it's not unexpected," Theodore said as he explained why the colt trialled twice before racing.

"The old days of trying to hide them at 3am is not our caper. We're out there trying to promote the business.

"We're a small stable trying to grow and as soon as we got him from the breakers I said he was the best horse I'd trained, just with the way he could run time.

"It didn't go to plan today but I think he showed with his last sectionals what he can achieve and why we're pretty excited about him."

Theodore is the son of Les Theodore, the first trainer of modern-day stars Campaign King and Better Loosen Up.

The trainer said he would be leaning on his father for advice on how he should approach autumn juvenile races with Crack A Roadie.

He also admitted to nerves despite his confidence heading into the Moonee Valley race.