Racing can be a test of patience, something the team behind Santa Ana Moon now understands all too well after their promising galloper finally delivered on Wednesday.

Trained by Leon and Troy Corstens along with Will Larkin, the three-year-old landed his first victory in the Sportsbet Jockey Watch Plate (1200m) at Sandown.

Santa Ana Moon first appeared on track at Cranbourne last September, running an encouraging third, but his path to the winner’s circle was delayed after a knee issue required surgery.

The injury sidelined him for more than half a year, halting what his team hoped would be a productive juvenile campaign.

“He was preparing very well leading into his first campaign, and we would have liked to have got some racing into him as a young horse,” Larkin said.

“These things happen, but we’ve looked after him and he’s looked after us today.

“He needed a bit of surgery to clean out a knee, but outside of that he’s come back very well, and he’s handled everything since he’s been back in work.

“It’s been a faultless preparation, so it’s good to get it off with a win.”

Starting the $2.15 favourite via betting apps, Santa Ana Moon secured a narrow win under Ben Allen, finishing ahead of Bakersbend and Oceanella in a tight finish.

Larkin admitted he had concerns mid-race as the colt found himself shuffled back and needing to force a run in the straight.

“Being a new horse, they can be a little bit timid at times and whether he was going to take that gap was a question mark,” Larkin said.

“But he went through it well, and I think there is a few more gears that he wasn’t giving us today.

“We won’t go putting too much in front of him yet. The horse is still learning his craft and there’s still a lot to come from him mentally.

“If mentally he can catch up to what he is physically, then we’ll look to step him up.”