Debbie Sweeney had expected Willit (NZ) (Swiss Ace) to give a bold account of himself at Rotorua and the three-year-old duly delivered at the first time of asking on Wednesday.
The Te Awamutu trainer had been more than happy with the son of Swiss Ace ahead of his debut in the Macmillan Accountants Maiden (1215m) and he proved comfortably superior to his age group rivals.
He is raced by breeder and Westbury Stud principal Gerry Harvey, whose colours were also later carried to victory by Murch (NZ) (Telperion) in the Greenlight Insurance Brokers Maiden (1215m)
Willit had finished runner-up in his first trial on the all-weather track at Cambridge and showed pleasing improvement last month to go one better at Arawa Park before franking that form on race day.
“He trialled well both times, he had been a little bit green but he’s a nice horse who has shown plenty of ability,” Sanders said.
“We were expecting him to go well for sure, his work has been really good.”
Willit had impressed Sweeney during his first preparation and patience has subsequently brought out the best in the gelding.
“He showed a lot the last time around, but he went shine sore, so he had a bit more time out and he came back a stronger horse for it,” she said.
Willit drew the outside barrier at Rotorua and was caught wide early before he slotted in one off the fence in third spot.
He loomed up to challenge three wide at the top of the straight and forged clear under the urgings of rider Matthew Cameron to score by 1-3/4 lengths from Teak (NZ) (Time Test), with the debutante Florin (NZ) (Vanbrugh) making good ground for third after missing the start.
“He got through the ground well and the further he goes the better he should be,” Sweeney said.
“He’s been gelded but he acts like a colt, he’s got a bit of spirit about him and can be a bit quirky at times.
“We’ll see how he pulls up after this and probably find a race for him in a fortnight or three weeks’ time. We’ll look after him and see where we end up.”
Willit is a son of the More Than Ready mare Waterfalls who has a 100 percent record at stud after previous successes of her daughters Tereine (NZ) (All Too Hard) and Catalina Bay (NZ) (Tavistock).
Waterfalls from the family of the Gr.1 Golden Slipper Stakes (1200m) winner and sire Catbird.
The Danny Walker and Aaron Tata-trained Murch posted a deserved victory in the closing event after the Telperion three-year-old had placed in three of his previous four starts.
Ridden by apprentice Triston Moodley, he sat close to the pace and finished determinedly to win narrowly in a driving finish.
Murch’s dam is the Encosta De Lago mare Rubi Di Lago who is a half-sister to the Gr.2 Bill Stutt Stakes (1600m) winner and Gr.1 Caulfield Guineas (1600m) placegetter Divine Calling (Stratum).
