Bjorn Baker's promising filly Songlike has proved too slick for her rivals in the Mcgrath Estate Agents Handicap (1100m) at Canterbury on Wednesday.
The daughter of Your Song had shown plenty of promise in her only two prior starts, finishing second on both occasions behind Godolphin's talented pair of Marble and Alizee, the latter of which is favourite for Saturday's Group II Silver Shadow Stakes at Randwick.
Songlike was sent straight to the front by Tim Clark to lead into a strong headwind with Hawkes Racing's Showtime settling closest in second position and Peter and Paul Snowden's Faeger getting cover throughout in third.
Songlike ($1.95 fav) had her rivals off the bit chasing soon after straightening and pinched a winning break to go on to score a dominant victory by a length to Showtime ($3.50) in second, with a further nose back to the closing Faeger ($9) in third.
"She's going the right way," Baker said. "I've got a good opinion of her. I've just got to think where we go from here.
"We may even look after her and give her a bit of time. We'll just see how she comes through first.
"I'm sure some of the horses behind her will go onto better things as well.
"She's always been a nice filly, it's nice to see her win a city race."
Tim Clark was of the opinion the speedy filly would develop into an even nicer horse in time.
"She puts herself in the right spot and was able to control it, which is probably not that easy to do today running in to the wind, so it adds more merit to the win," Clark said.
"There were horses sitting back with cover getting softer runs but she had the fitness on her side and we utilised that and quickened up before the turn and she did a job to hold on.
"I think next time she'll be even better when she strengthens up a bit more. She's going to fill out a bit more but she's a filly with good promise and I'm sure Bjorn will place her to advantage."
Songlike was the 14th individual winner for the 2016/17 champion first season sire by winners Your Song.
