Perth-based trainer Dan Morton was convinced Kissonallforcheeks could stand up to a Group 3 test on Super Saturday at Flemington and that confidence was rewarded as the four-year-old took out the Shaftesbury Avenue Handicap over 1400 metres.
“That’s why we’re here,” Morton said after Kissonallforcheeks ($4.80 favourite) notched a 2-¾ lenth victory over Crosshaven ($15) and South Australian mare Morvada ($8.50).
“She’s a high-class mare but it’s not until you get here and everything settles down and get the job done that it all comes together,” he added.
While COVID related border restrictions may have helped Morton’s decision to maintain the mare’s early career in Perth, immaturity had more of a bearing before this trip to Melbourne.
“We were tempted to bring her (here) last year at this time but she was just a bit new and I couldn’t keep my hands on her at that point,” he said.
Having finished less than a length behind Regal Power in the Group 1 Kingston Town Stakes (1800m) at Ascot in December, Kissonallforcheeks’ ability isn’t lost on Mark Zahra.
“It was so painless, Zahra said.
“It worked out so easy in the run. Sometimes you’ve got to be careful not to wait too long in the run to go through the gears.
“But I thought ‘ok baby, it’s time to go, we’ve only got two or three hundred left’, and gee she won easy.”
Morton is open to continuing Kissonallforcheeks’ campaign either in Melbourne or Sydney with the latter dependant on drier surfaces than is currently the case.
This Group 3 win was the mare’s ninth victory in 19 starts to add to seven other placings with, as far as both trainer and jockey are concerned, more joy to come.
“She’s a four-year-old mare and quite often a trip away does them a world of good,” Morton said.
“With a bit of luck, if the weather clears up we’ll head up north.”