Sweet victory for Tivaci filly

One Kiss added winning black type momentum to her spring campaign on Saturday afternoon with higher honours now beckoning the talented daughter of Tivaci.

The three-year-old produced a powerful finish to triumph in the Listed Canterbury Belle Stakes with a stirring performance at Riccarton that saw her odds trimmed to $10 for next month’s G1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas.

The Waikato Stud-bred and sold Tivaci filly Wolverine also impressed at Randwick where she finished stoutly from a long way back to finish third in the G2 Tea Rose S. with an effort that augurs well for her future Australian prospects from Kris Lees’ stable.

Trained by Mark Walker for breeder Lib Petagna’s JML Bloodstock, One Kiss was making just her second appearance after a luckless unplaced debut last month.

“She went out favourite at Taupo and nothing went right for her,” Walker said.

One Kiss was kept out of trouble and within touch of the leaders today by rider Opie Bosson and she rounded off strongly in the run home to score with authority.

“She’s a really progressive sort of filly and that was a good effort to win a stakes race second-up,” Walker said.

“It was a lovely ride by Opie and she’s still got improvement to come as we look at a possible tilt at the Group 1 here during Cup Week.”

One Kiss is the third individual stakes winner for Tivaci, whose Waikato Stud-owned daughter Never Been Kissed claimed the G1 Flight S. while Wolverine has twice been successful at Group 2 level in the Eclipse S. and Wakefield Challenge S.