Soriano and Sacred Star are now dual Group One winners after weight-for-age victories at Te Rapa.
Soriano came with a rails run to take out the International Stakes (2000m), while Sacred Star was too strong in the Waikato Sprint (1400m) later in the day.
Soriano had been a perennial placegetter at Group One level in the previous three seasons but she broke her duck on Boxing Day in the Zabeel Classic, over the same 2000-metre distance.
She was out of the placings in the Thorndon Mile (1600m) at Trentham in late January but returned to winning form with a return to 2000m and weight-for-age conditions at Te Rapa.
Soriano will head to the New Zealand Stakes (2000m) at Ellerslie next start and co-trainer Graeme Rogerson says he then wants to look at the Queen Elizabeth Stakes in Sydney.
“I think this mare’s gone to another level,” said Rogerson, who trains the mare near Hamilton.
“I think she deserves to race against the world’s best.”
Jockey Rory Hutchings found a run on the fence when Fast Dragon rolled off the fence and held off a late challenge from Nashville.
“They weren’t making any ground from out wide all day,” he said.
“The run almost closed on me but the tough mare that she is she dug in and pinned her ears back.”
Sacred Star was favourite after winning the Telegraph Handicap as topweight and he didn’t disappoint, coming from off the pace to take the lead 250m out and comfortably hold out Natuzzi and Spin Doctor.
Earlier, Vavasour lived up to her big reputation to win the Group Two Sir Tristram Classic (2000m) for three-year-old fillies from Saavoya and Charmont.
