Lightly raced three-year-old filly Kitty Flash showed her age group rivals a clean pair of heels as she dominated the opening event at Te Rapa on Saturday, the Colliers Commercial 3YO (1400m).
The Andrew Forsman-prepared daughter of Ace High had impressed when winning at Taupo last month over the same distance to break her maiden status following a debut fifth in the Gr.3 Northland Breeders' Stakes (1200m) at Ruakaka.
Apprentice Rihaan Goyaram made full use of his 3kg allowance, which had the filly carry just 52kgs, as he bounced her straight to the front from an inside barrier (2) before setting up a solid speed in tandem with Chicago Jack, who sat outside her until the home turn.
Goyaram eased Kitty Flash clear by three lengths as they straightened, and despite being chased hard in the closing stages, she comfortably held out the challenges of Altari and race favourite Kiwi Skyhawk to post her second career win.
Forsman was delighted with the performance from a filly he holds in high regard.
"She was very sharp today and did it nicely," Forsman said.
"We've always held an opinion of her as she has showed such good ability from the moment she entered the stable.
"She got a nice pull in the weights today and the ability to race on speed was in her favour, but you still have to be good enough to put yourself there, and she was."
Forsman will now put the finishing touches on a plan to get Kitty Flash to the Gr.1 Barneswood Farm New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton on November 16.
"Riccarton has always been our target and she showed today she is going the right way to be a big chance in the race," he said.
"She will have one more run before we head south but whether that is in the Soliloquy (Gr.2, 1400m) at Ellerslie or the Sarten Memorial (Gr.2, 1400m) at Te Rapa is the choice we have to make."
TAB Bookmakers were suitably impressed by the run and have Kitty Flash listed as the $10 equal third favourite behind Alabama Lass and Captured By Love, who sit at the top of the 1000 Guineas Fixed Odds market at $3.
