First Stakes Winner for Demerit

The Russell Stewart-trained Kiss Bang Love opened her winning account in Saturday's Group III Gimcrack Stakes (1100m) at Ascot to credit her sire Demerit with his first stakes winner.

Worse than midfield under William Pike, the 2yo filly stormed home to defeat Lucy Mae (Stratum) by one and a quarter lengths with the odds-on favourite Seannie (Sebring) coming from last to run third.

"It's pretty huge in the context of things," Stewart told The West Australian.

"I've only got a small stable and a filly like this comes along not very often.

"I picked her out as a weanling. I saw her in the paddock and was sitting on the back of a ute and thought 'she'll do me'."

Stewart outlaid $9,000 to secure Kiss Bang Love (pictured as a yearling) from the Taunton Vale draft at the 2016 Magic Millions Perth Yearling sale.

She is the second foal of the winning Trade fair mare Vacillare whose dam Body Corporate is a half-sister to Group II Roman Consul Stakes winner Denmark and the multiple stakes winner and successful sire Key Business.

Vacillare's yearling sister to Kiss Bang Love was purchased by Jim Taylor for $18,000 at this year's Perth Yearling sale.

Not served in 2015, Vacillare was covered by Demerit again last spring.

A Group III winning son of Lonhro, Demerit covered 70 mares at Taunton Vale last spring at a fee of $3,300.