Premier jockey James McDonald has given a glowing endorsement of Godolphin filly Raison D'Etre, who will head towards black-type races after her winning return at Canterbury.
Taking on a smart midweek field, Raison D'Etre ($3.30) controlled the race and extended her advantage in the straight to post a runaway three-length win in Wednesday's Bowermans Commercial Furniture Handicap (1200m).
Favourite Elizabeel, who boasts a Saturday placing behind Golden Rose fancy Peltzer, was no match for the winner and finished second, a neck ahead of Spirituality ($13).
Raison D'Etre has shown ability from the outset but the Godolphin team has had to work hard to improve her temperament.
McDonald rode her in two defeats as a juvenile but said she was more settled this campaign.
“Absolutely beautiful filly. They've done a good job keeping a lid on her, she is quite fiery to say the least and gets herself worked up,” McDonald said.
“She didn't execute the best in the past but today she jumped extremely well and was able to get into a really quick rhythm.
“She put them to bed pretty quickly. She's got a bright future.”
Trainer James Cummings was equally upbeat and felt Raison D'Etre, lining up for just her third start, was starting to learn to harness her talent.
He has no doubt she can measure up in better races.
“She hasn't been quite settled in the mind in the past and she has taken a bit more time to demonstrate it and put the writing on the wall but you've got to be delighted with that, running into a strong headwind all the way from the gates and she settled beautifully,” Cummings said
“She sprinted away from them like a very classy racehorse.
“I think she has got to makings of a black-type horse.”
Godolphin has another of its smart three-year-olds resuming in the Silver Shadow Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on Saturday in Magic Night Stakes winner Thermosphere.
The filly has not raced since finishing down the track in the Golden Slipper but Cummings expects her to feature during the spring.
“Things haven't gone ideally for her since she won the Magic Night Stakes,” Cummings said.
“But she gives us the indication that she's progressing somewhere toward another Group win.”