There were a number of first season sires with irons in the fire for the juvenile event at Canterbury on Friday night and it was Newgate’s Brutal that got the winner with his talented filly Totoka diving through late between runners to snatch an eye-catching win.

Trained by Paul Perry, Totoka was placed at the official trials last spring and took her place in the Group III ATC Gimcrack Stakes finishing out of the placings, but the experience proved valuable. With two good trial runs under her belt last month, Totoka ran a super race for Dylan Gibbons, unleashing an explosive finish to win the 1200m maiden by a long neck.

“She came back and has had two trials so has had a really good grounding, although this didn’t go to plan as we thought she’d be first three in the run,” said stable representative Nathan Perry.

“From day one she showed she had ability, it’s just taken her a little time to get there.”

Totoka was bought by Paul Perry for $46,000 at the Inglis HTBA Scone Sale and was bred and offered for sale by Kingstar Farm. She is the first winner from Sports Writer, a two time winning sister to stakes-winner It Is Written.

Sports Writer returned last spring to Brutal, who has now sired three winners with Totoka joining metro winner Jenni’s Meadow and Magic Millions Debut winner Lead Me On.