Racing: Rae, Evans-trained horses on form at Ruakaka

Prom Queen pulled off a phenomenal performance to win on her home track. Photo / Race Images

Kenny Rae was left stunned by Prom Queen's performance on her home track on Saturday.

The Ruakaka trainer had doubts before the Bear Morgan at Harcourts Bream Bay, but the diminutive filly monstered her 3-year-old rivals with an outstanding display to win in a canter.

"I'm in a state of shock. I honestly thought she was vulnerable today," said Rae, who trains Prom Queen with his wife Lisa and their daughter Krystal Williams.

"Last Saturday I gave her a good gallop and she blew too much for my liking. She's got a lot of improvement in her so how good is she?"

Prom Queen was quickly into her stride and sat outside the leader to the turn before rider Alysha Collett asked her to sprint and they exploded clear to win easing down by six lengths from Bombard.

"If she had drawn one she would have won by 10 lengths," Rae said.

Prom Queen already has listed successes from last season in the Welcome Stakes and the Champagne Stakes and she will be back in black type company for her next start.

"She'll probably run in the Northland Breeders' Stakes here," Rae said. "After that she may go down to Ashburton for the John Grigg Stakes or to Ellerslie for the Soliloquy. I'll space her races out, she's only little."

Meanwhile well-known thoroughbred breeding identity Emma Evans enjoyed a golden half-hour on Saturday as she produced a unique winning double.

The Evans bred and owned Watch This Space commenced his spring campaign with a gritty victory at Ruakaka in the Open 1200m contest while just 15 minutes later promising mare Deals In Heels scored with authority over 1300m at Hastings.

Both winners herald from a remarkable female lineage that has provided Evans with more than a decade of success, including Group One winner Dezigna who was out of Label Basher, the granddad of both Watch This Space and Deals In Heels.

Now a 6-year-old, the underrated Watch This Space has come back in fine fettle for trainer Wayne Hillis who admitted he was confident of a forward showing from his charge on the weekend.

"He always goes pretty good fresh and being able to get a decent track for him was also a positive," he said.

"He's got plenty of ability although his form towards the end of his last campaign doesn't really reflect that.

"We took on the best at mainly weight-for-age or set weights and penalties which isn't his go as he doesn't cop the big weights that well. In the Easter Stakes he was giving most of them weight which was just a little too tough for him."

- NZ Racing Desk