Damien Oliver is convinced Divan has the potential to live up to his outstanding pedigree after the much-hyped colt scored a narrow but impressive win at Sandown.

The three-year-old is by champion sire Zabeel out of seven-time Group One winner Seachange and despite over-racing in a slowly run event he was able to come from behind to win Wednesday's 1400-metre maiden.

Bookmakers reacted by slashing his Caulfield Guineas odds from $21 to $14 and he now shares the third line of betting for the Group One race.

He also firmed into $31 for the Cox Plate.

Oliver, who was riding Divan for the first time, said the colt impressed him despite doing several things wrong in the run.

"He does give you the feel of a good horse," Oliver said.

"He's got a beautiful make up. He's great to look at. He gives you a good feel. He's got all the right attributes to be a good horse.

"We're just going to have to see how he develops."

Divan, who is part of prominent owner Lloyd Williams's strong Macedon Lodge team, had made only one previous race appearance, finishing a closing third in the Listed Anzac Day Stakes (1400m) at Flemington in April.

He was sent out a $1.95 favourite in Wednesday's Cable Beach Club Resort & Spa Plate but didn't give Oliver the easiest of rides.

The colt raced fresh first-up and overdid it during the run before working into the race coming to the home turn.

He let down well once he straightened up to get the job done by a half-neck over Karigara, with another three-quarters of a length to Create A Stir third.

"He was very fresh," Oliver said.

"The pace was really slow, he did over-race and he's done a good job considering how keen he was.

"I'm sure there's a lot of improvement to come."