RITZA Runner continued her trend of improvement with every race by claiming her first victory for trainer Darren Wort at Kennerson Park on Monday.
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A clean start allowed Ritza Runner ($3 favourite) to jump clear of the pack in the GBOTA Welcome Maiden (307 metres) and avoid the jostling for positions behind her.
Wort's Ritza Lenny bitch was making her fifth career start on Monday and had been slowly clawing her way toward the lower end of the 18-second mark over the 307m.
However, in her latest run she took a major leap by running 17.80 seconds and impressed Wort with her pace.
"I thought she was a bit stiffed last week. She had the three and the two held her out. I think you can put a line through that one," he said.
"But today, I thought she was a great chance, for sure.
"She's come down in time from the first time I sent her around here. The first time she ran a 18.70 then the next time it was a 18.20 so she's always had improvement in her.
"For the time being she'll stay around this distance. She's only a baby."
Ritza Runner was drawn well in box two and put the advantageous position to good use.
Within a matter of strides Ritza Runner had managed to get across Brother Boy to her inside and put distance between herself and the chasing pair of Arrogant Spike and Gem Dealer.
The lead on the turn was two lengths.
Arrogant Spike and Gem Dealer looked capable of matching it with the leader but they became their own worst enemies as they became tangled with one another.
That let Ritza Runner hold her advantage throughout the run, even extending her lead to six lengths at the winning post.
Gem Dealer ($10, Paul Rollins) got away from Arrogant Spike to claim second.
Debut runner Raglan Cobra ($6, Matt Murphy) flashed home down the inside for third.