Top mare Daffodil scored a slashing first-up victory over 1100m today in preparation for the group one BMW in Sydney in April.
The Kevin Gray-trained stayer justified her heavy support in the $40,000 open handicap at New Plymouth, scoring by a length from the well-performed sprinter Jazzella.
Daffodil, carrying topweight of 58kg, was crunched on the tote to start a $2.60 favourite in her first race start since finishing a luckless 11th in the Melbourne Cup last November.
The 2009 AJC Oaks winner also topped $1 million in stake earnings with her eighth victory from 23 starts.
Daffodil settled fifth in the running and loomed up halfway down the straight to overhaul the pacemaker Jazzella, with rider Opie Bosson showing minimal vigour.
"It's just pure class, isn't it," owner Garry Chittick told Trackside television, adding the performance exceeded his expectations.
"She's had a lot of bad luck but she's just a wonderful mare to be a part of."
Chittick confirmed Daffodil would have her next start at group one level in the Otaki-Maori Weight-For-Age (1600m) next Sunday before travelling to Sydney for the $A400,000 Ranvet Stakes (2000m) on March 13, then the $A2.25 million BMW (2400m) at Rosehill on April 3.
