Former West Australian Kissonallforcheeks broke through at her second start for Nick Ryan in Saturday's Group II Furphy Let's Elope Stakes (1400m) at Flemington.
Under a perfectly timed ride by Mark Zahra, the 5yo daughter of Written Tycoon defeated Lady Of Honour (No Nay Never) by a neck with a further short-half-head back to Yearning (Snitzel), who came from last to claim third.
Timed to perfection (image Grant Courtney)
A 4-time stakes-winner for Dan Morton, the Graham Dawes bred mare was coming off a third in the Group III Cockram Stakes at Caulfield on August 27, won by Chain Of Lightning.
The 5yo daughter of Written Tycoon advances her record to ten wins, five seconds, and three thirds from 23 starts with earnings of $1,117,265.
Ryan showered praise on Mark Zahra.
"I'd give him 12; that's why you put him on. Pound for pound, there's none better," Ryan said.
"From the tricky draw, we knew he would need an ounce of luck, and it was just an open book for Mark. He executed it perfectly.
"I think Mark knows how fast he's going, there was a genuine tempo, and he was happy to just come back and tuck in and get cover, and he trusted the horse.
"She's a classy mare, and I'm grateful that she's got the job done
"There are a few different paths, but it could be the Rose Of Kingston in 21 days, all heading towards the Empire Rose (Stakes)."
A $120,000 purchase by Morton Racing out of the Newhaven Park draft at the 2019 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, Kissonallforcheeks is the best of two winners from three to race out of the accomplished Blackfriars mare Rosie Rocket.
The winner of the Listed WATC Starstruck Classic, Listed La Trice Classic, and placed in the Group 1 Railway Stakes while banking $436,975, Rosie Rocket has a Russian Revolution colt that failed to make his $150,000 reserve at the Inglis Classic.
Rosie Rocket has a yearling filly by All Too Hard and missed to Ole Kirk last spring.
