Argentinian filly Istataba put her best foot forward to win the $75,000 Restricted Maiden race over 1200m on Sunday.
Connections felt that the three-year-old daughter of Treasure Beach had some potential and she showed that with two seconds from two starts previously.
The Al Rashid Stable-owned bay filly jumped smartly from barrier five, and took up a more forward position than expected, staying one-off the fence with newcomer Liebestraum (Marc Lerner) on her outside, while following behind leader Dixit Dominus (Manoel Nunes) and Deception (Wong Chin Cheun).
As the field of 12 makes the turn for the judge, Jockey Jake Bayliss pulled out the persuader on Istataba to keep her mind on the job. The $17 favourite kept finding to wear down the Donna Logan-trained Deception by a head. Stablemate Dixit Dominus finished another one-and-a-half lengths away in third.
Winning trainer Michael Clements' third runner Ealami (Louis-Philippe Beuzelin) ran sixth, close to four lengths behind the winner.
The winning time was 1 min 11.04seconds for the 1200m on the Short course.
Assistant-trainer Michael White deputised for Clements to welcome the winner home. He was pleased with her first win over the 1200m, albeit she is a miler in the making.
"She put the writing on the wall with that first run (similar race on February 26 over 1000m) but this race is a lot stronger on paper," said the Australian horseman.
"She has definitely improved, and we thought she'd run good. It is a great result for the owners as they took our advice to get rid of their older horses and focus on their younger horses.
"They put a lot of faith in us to get them right, and they are getting the results now.
"It took her the whole of the straight to get there, so it probably reflects that she would get the 1400m better.
"We will look at the better three-year-old feature races in the middle of the year for her, but the older she gets, she is definitely looking for the 1400 to 1600m.
"She is a lovely filly and she will improve. We'll see how she goes."
White was referring to the Group 3 Singapore Three-Year-Old Sprint (1200m) and the Group 2 Singapore Three-Year-Old Classic (1400m) held on June 18 and July 9 respectively.
Bayliss was surprised to see the Kuwaiti-owned filly secure a more positive run than envisioned but concurred with White that she needed further.
"She won on raw ability this time," said the Australian hoop of his third winner since debuting in Singapore on February 19.
"I was surprised as I thought she would be in midfield or further back, but she jumped very well.
"She copped a bump at the corner (from Street Of Dreams) and I was a little worried, but she dug deep and reeled off a really strong 1200m sprint.
"The three in front were slick 1000m horses, but she's looking for further.
"She is crying for the mile."
With that first win and two placings in three starts, Istataba has earned close to $70,000 in prizemoney for her connections.
