Recite prevailed in Saturday's Group 2 Matamata Breeders' Stakes, keeping her unbeaten record alive and giving Hawke's Bay racing - and particularly Hastings trainer John Bary - yet another win in a prestigious event on the New Zealand racing calendar.
And, with three impressive victories in three starts so far, Hawke's Bay sport might just have a new superstar.
It was an eagerly-anticipated clash between two undefeated stakes-winning fillies, Bounding and Recite, and the Matamata Breeders' Stakes didn't disappoint. The rest of the small field had all shown plenty of ability in their careers to date as well, but the big two soon made it clear they were on another level. The rest of the field was instantly blown away by their acceleration.
Bounding - the only horse to defeat spectacular Karaka Million winner Ruud Awakening in that filly's scintillating career so far - and Recite burst six lengths clear of the rest of the field as they charged down the home straight, and they turned their attention to each other and set down to battle out the finish of the $100,000 feature.
And what a battle it was. Bounding and Recite dashed down the Matamata home straight locked together. One would move slightly ahead, then the other would lift again and draw level. Recite managed to summon one more last-gasp lunge in the dying strides, edging ahead of the gallant Bounding to just pip her at the post by a long head.