Progressive mare Dark Princess continued her rise up the ranks with her first victory at stakes level when successful in Saturday’s Gr.3 Gee & Hickton Thompson Handicap (1600m) at Trentham.

The Cape Blanco five-year-old caught the eye with a barnstorming finish to win at Hastings over the same distance at her last start.

That convinced punters to send her out as a $5.30 favourite in Saturday’s contest where she dashed clear over the final 100m in the hands of Lisa Allpress to down gallant topweight Dolcetto with former Australian galloper Raw Impulse closing off nicely to snatch third.

“She’s still a work in progress but she’s got a touch of class about her,” trainer Jeff Lynds said.

“The little bit of rain on the track helped her but we did think she was up to the class now that she has fully matured.

“As long as she comes through this run well we will be able to look at some more ambitious targets but at this stage I don’t really have a firm plan.”