Royally-bred filly Supera put a disappointing debut performance behind her when she opened her winning account at Te Rapa today.

Bred and raced by Sir Peter Vela, Supera is a grand-daughter of his dual Caulfield and Melbourne winner Ethereal.

The younger sibling of dual Group Three winner Eleonora and four-win mare Sopraffina had finished well back at Taupo on debut after a tardy start extinguished her chances. The headstrong Savabeel filly got her act together this time though as she bounced from an inside barrier in the maiden 1200-metre contest to settle handily behind the early pace.

Once into the straight, rider Cameron Lammas angled Supera off the fence to issue a strong challenge to pacemaker Walkin’ By before drawing clear to win comfortably by two lengths from race favourite Beauden.

Co-trainer Ken Kelso was understandably pleased at the reversal of fortunes for the filly who he admitted could be quite a handful to deal with.

“She got a bit wound up at Taupo with everything that was going on and played up badly in the barrier,” he said. “She didn’t have a lot of luck in the straight either where she got held up a bit.

“She’s a filly that has taken a lot of making as she’s hard work but has always had a lot of ability. She gets herself in a bit of a tiz, but she’s got it, so once she’s had a few starts I think she will settle down.”

Rider Cameron Lammas was of a similar opinion, especially with regard to the filly’s cantankerous nature.

“I think I earnt my riding fee getting her down to the start,” he said. “She jumped well although I used her up a little to get a position.

“Once I asked her she just went whoosh. I think she’s going to develop into a nice horse.”