The Listed Merson Cooper Stakes has a rich heritage in kick-starting the careers of future top-liners and the first starter Steal My Kisses fits the profile.
Jumping the best from an outside barrier for Damien Oliver, the daughter of I Am Invincible made every post a winner to defeat Memphis Rock (Fastnet Rock) by three-quarters of a length with a further length and a quarter back to the fast-finishing First Dawn who claimed the bragging rights as the first stakes horse for her sire Brazen Beau.
It was an impressive career debut for Steal My Kisses who looked the consummate professional to quicken off a solid place to put the race to bed at the 250-metre mark.
"She showed speed and stamina. We weren't sure how to ride from (barrier) 11 of 11. For a first starter you never know, I thought it was a disadvantage out there, but Olly just found his own way," winning trainer Mick Price said.
"We will put her out now and set her for the Blue Diamond and those autumn two-year-old races. She's done a good job this prep. She didn't go through sales, she was unraced before today and has done a good job, we will put her out while the weather is good and we will have a nice autumn filly."
A homebred for Bill Frost, Steal My Kisses is the third live foal of The Fairy's Kiss (Elusive Quality) who won just one race, a maiden at Seymour but was runner-up in four of her nine starts including the Group III Thoroughbred Breeders Stakes at Caulfield.
A daughter of the multiple Group II winner Ballet Society (Stravinsky) who placed in the Group 1 MRC Thousand Guineas, Steal My Kisses was consigned by Widden Stud to the 2017 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale where she was knocked down to Aquis Farm for $100,000. She foaled a colt by Smart Missile and was bred back to Choisir.
Steal My Kisses becomes the 39th stakes-winner, and the fourth 2yo stakes-winner in the first few months of the season, for Yarraman Park Stud's I Am Invincible (pictured) who is the most represented stallion at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale in January with 61 youngsters catalogued.
