Promising Adelaide filly Pretty Punk will head to Melbourne following a breakthrough victory in the Listed Hill Smith Stakes (1800m) at Morphettville.

Saturday’s victory gave her sire Rebel Raider his first success in black-type company.  He stands for a $5,500 (inc gst) at Wyndholm Park in Ballarat.

Pretty Punk is trained by Leon Macdonald & Andrew Gluyas and is the fourth Hill-Smith winner for the stable in the last 15 editions following Gallant Guru (2002), Perfect Punch (2011) and Beluga Blue (2015).

In the market at $6.50 after a last-start win at Morphettville, she covered ground in transit but had enough in reserve to collar the favourite Morvada and then draw clear by almost two lengths.

“She’s a good filly,” jockey Joe Bowditch said.  “She was wide but had some cover and was really strong to the line.”

Her immediate spring carnival target will be the Group 2 Wakeful Stakes (2000m) at Flemington on October 29.

Pretty Punk is a homebred for Harry Perks who also raced Rebel Raider and Gallant Guru with Macdonald.  She is from USA-bred Moonee Valley winner Reliability (Kurofune).

Rebel Raider (Reset) won the Group 3 SA Sires Produce Stakes (1600m) at two and Group 1 Victorian Derby (2500m) & G1 SAJC Derby (2500m) in his classic year.

“He never realised his full potential,” Macdonald recalled.  “I was fortunate to train AJC Derby winner Gold Guru and I would have to say that Rebel Raider was a better stayer.”

Rebel Raider is a son of Darley Victoria sire Reset (Zabeel) and is a half-brother to G3 Caulfield winner Shamoline Warrior (Shamardal) who is also siring winners in New Zealand.

He retired to Carin Park in Hamilton but only covered 19 mares first-up at stud.  Patronage increased markedly after transferring to Wyndholm Park with books of 80, 80, 100 and 93 in his next four seasons.