There was an air of anticipation surrounding the debut of Home Affairs filly Natural Fling at Caulfield on Saturday and the hype proved justified when the talented bay thrashed her rivals to win by three lengths.
Sent off favourite for the 1100m juvenile dash following some encouraging jumpouts and a winning barrier trial, the Tony and Calvin McEvoy trained filly took the step forward to race day in her stride.
She zoomed straight to the front for Harry Coffey and relaxed in the lead before scooting away to win as she pleased over Jarbardar, who had won his previous start on debut, with another Home Affairs in Shooting Brake holding third place.
The McEvoy stable have loftier plans for Natural Fling now she has broken the ice with the $1 million Magic Millions National 2YO Classic (1000m) at the Gold Coast on May 22 on the radar.
"She's going to be looking to kick on up to Queensland," Calvin McEvoy said.
"There's a $1 million race up there to consider.
"She's very fast and the 1000 or 1100 metres, I don't think it matters, but I was so impressed with her attitude today and she handled it all very well and that will take her a long way."
A $550,000 Magic Millions purchase from Yarraman Park for McEvoy Mitchell Racing/Belmont Bloodstock Agency, Natural Fling has banked over $80,000 with her first win and there is the promise to come of much more.
"She's been very natural all the way along with a terrific attitude," McEvoy said.
"Home Affairs is doing a pretty good job and it's a really good ownership group, some of our biggest supporters, some from Sunlight and some from Half Yours.
"She's a filly that we have always loved, and we came here very confident, but the track was something that came up as a little bit of a query.
"She's fast, had shown good ability in her jump-outs, but they all had to get through it.
"Harry had to use her a little bit, but she was quite dominant in the end."
Natural Fling was bred by Australian Bloodstock, foaled and raised at Yarraman Park and is a half-sister to Group III placed Wootton Lass.
She is the second winner from The Natural, a winning half-sister by Fastnet Rock to dual Group I winner Fiveandahalfstar and to the dam of Group I winner El Castello.
The Natural has a yearling colt by Brave Smash (Jpn) that was sold in the Yarraman Park draft at Inglis Classic for $300,000 to Graham Begg Racing / Rohan Hughes Bloodstock.
She had no foal last year after missing to I Am Invincible and is now in foal to Too Darn Hot (GB).
Natural Fling is the ninth first crop winner for Home Affairs, who is on track to be Champion First Season Sire and has had his service fee raised at Coolmore this spring to $176,000.
