Race fitness gave Hidden Kisses the edge over her Group One-winning stablemate Royal Descent at Warwick Farm but the Toy Show Quality runner-up proved she was on track for bigger things.
A relatively new acquisition for the all-conquering Chris Waller stable, Hidden Kisses ($7) held off Australian Oaks winner Royal Descent ($1.95) by a long neck to win Saturday’s 1300m Group Three race.
Hidden Kisses - Photo by Steve Hart
Queen’s Elect ($16) held her position to run third, another 1-3/4 lengths away.
Waller was thrilled to see Hidden Kisses win her second race from as many starts under his care and was just as pleased with the first-up effort of Royal Descent who has the Caulfield Cup and Cox Plate among her targets.
“Race fitness is the key,” Waller said.
“It was great to see Royal Descent race well but the oxygen factor took over in the final stages.
“Rob Heathcote sent Hidden Kisses down from Queensland in great condition and she has been in work a while.
“I’m not sure what the plans are for her. She is a six-year-old and she’s a Group Three winner now so she’s done her job.”
The trainer was unsure whether the breeding barn was on the agenda for Hidden Kisses but adamant the job was just beginning for Royal Descent.
“Our job is to get her to Melbourne,” he said.
“We’re entitled to dream about the Cox Plate and the Caulfield Cup and I wouldn’t rule out the Epsom Handicap.
“She’s not just a 2400-metre horse and there are many options.”
Hidden Kisses brought up a treble for Waller from the first three races at Warwick Farm on Saturday after the TAB put up a market for how many winners he would train.
