First Serve produced a dominant performance at Riccarton on Wednesday to continue her climb up the rankings.

The locally-trained mare went into the Gr.3 Valachi Downs Canterbury Breeders’ Stakes as a warm favourite and she was untroubled to deliver a popular winning result.

First Serve had also been the market elect in Saturday’s Listed Pegasus Stakes and co-trainer Michael Pitman was unhappy no action was taken after the mare finished in behind the dividend payers.

“She was whacked over the head twice and nothing was done about it,” he said.

First Serve was reluctant to take a gap in the straight after copping a couple of clouts with the whip from rival jockey Courtney Barnes aboard Super Trouper before she got going late for fourth.

The daughter of Swiss Ace was a dual acceptor on Wednesday with the Breeders’ Stakes considered a more suitable race over the Gr.3 Lindauer Stewards’ Stakes Handicap.

“Despite what happened the other day, she looked like she might want more ground and it was the softer option, to be fair,” said Pitman, who trains in partnership with his son Matthew.

“Matt has done a great job with this mare, he’s probably had more to do with her than any other horse in the stable.”

Another integral member of the team has been jockey Samantha Wynne, who has ridden First Serve in all six of her wins.

Wynne, who wore a black armband in memory of her late Aunt Susan, took the initiative early on when she went forward after being caught wide.

First Serve then travelled comfortably outside of the leader and she forged clear 200 metres from home to beat Latin Rose, who came home strongly after missing the jump, and Heni.