Warwick Farm trainer Matthew Smith is optimistic about the future of promising filly Hurtle Myrtle after she returned a winner in the Freeway Republic Beer Handicap (1200m) at Canterbury on Wednesday.

Smith said he was giving serious consideration to stepping the rising three-year-old up to black-type company but was unsure at this stage which path to take.

"The Golden Rose is just around the corner and we might have to have a crack," Smith said.

"I"m just not sure yet. Do you go to the Rose or wait and go around against fillies in the Princess series? We"ll just see how she pulls up and go from there."

The daughter of freshman stallion Dane Shadow, Hurtle Myrtle was quickly into stride from barrier rise but not as quickly as Kiss "n Chase who sped across the face of the field from the outside alley to take up the running.

Hurtle Myrtle nestled into the box-seat while the other runner in the market, Little Surfer Girl, was trapped out three and four wide facing the breeze.

On straightening, Kiss "n Chase was quickly under pressure when Little Surfer Girl let down quickly and shot to the front while Hurtle Myrtle was warming up strongly.

As the hard run told on Little Surfer Girl, Hurtle Myrtle cut back the margin with every stride before sticking her nose in front in the shadows of the post.

The placings and margins - Hurtle Myrtle (Blake Shinn) 56.5kg ($3.70) defeated Little Surfer Girl (Corey Brown) 56.5kg ($4.60) by a shot head with 3-1/4 lengths back to Kiss "n Chase (Hugh Bowman) 56.5kg ($5) in third place.

Winner"s breeding - Hurtle Myrtle is a two-year-old filly by Dane Shadow out of Ravenswood (Woodman (USA)).

The time and sectionals - The field covered the 1200 metres in 1.13.81 with the last 600 run in 37.04 seconds.

What they said - "She is a really nice filly. We had a good run but she quickened nicely and really chased Little Surfer Girl hard," said Blake Shinn, winning rider of Hurtle Myrtle.

"Stiff. It was a super return," said Corey Brown, rider of Little Surfer Girl (2nd).

"It was a good solid debut performance and she"ll improve," Said Hugh Bowman, rider of Kiss "n Chase (3rd).

"She ran ok and just wants a bit more ground," said Kerrin McEvoy, rider of Oopsy Doopsy (4th).

"We had no luck early and she did a good job," said Nash Rawiller, rider of Autumn Reflections (5th)

The market - The winner Hurtle Myrtle was the best-backed runner in the race firming into $3.70 after $4.20 was bet. There was also good backing for Kiss "n Chase in from $6.50 to $5 while Little Surfer Girl was a drifter from $3.50 to $4.60. The on-course market closed at 116 percent.

Story courtesy of Clinton Payne