Trainer David Hayes has underlined the Group 1 Thousand Guineas (1600m) as the major Spring Carnival target for Sanadaat, who returned to racing with a convincing victory at Ladbrokes Park on Sunday afternoon.

Sanadaat will be set for the Group 1 Thousand Guineas following a dominant first-up win at Ladbrokes Park. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos

Sanadaat had not been seen at the races since early February, but the filly trialled well in the lead-up to her return on Sunday and was sent off an outright $2.80 favourite in betting markets for the Jim Conway BM70 (1200m).

Jumping from the gates well, jockey Jake Duffy took an ideal position in transit on the heels of early leaders Onehundred Percent and Oriental Gift across the back straight, but worked the horse onto the pace approaching the turn.

Comfortably striding clear of her rivals upon arriving at the final straight, the daughter of Not A Single Doubt produced a superior turn of foot and hit the line for an impressive four-length win.

Hayes was understandably thrilled with Sanadaat’s impressive first-up performance and is confident that he she will only improve throughout the forthcoming Spring Carnival.

“She’s got a fair bit of class and I loved the way she straightened up and let down over 1200m first up,” Hayes told Racing Victoria.

“She’s been plagued by shin soreness but she’s grown out of that.

“I really feel she’s very classy. We’ll be looking for a Stakes race at her next run and she’ll be one of the favourites when she runs I think.”

Duffy was thrilled with the feel offered up by the lightly-raced filly on Sunday and echoed Hayes’ sentiments regarding her Spring Carnival campaign.

“I like everything about her, she’s got a great attitude and gives you her all,” Duffy said.

“She’s probably a better horse ridden with a sit but obviously it was a small field today and I rode her like the best horse in the race and she raced that way.”

Sanadaat trialled well prior to making her racing debut in February and immediately stamped herself as a filly to follow when a dominant winner of the Holdfast Insurance Plate (1000m) first-up; running third behind Ducimus and Taking Aim in the Listed Talindert Stakes (1100m) a fortnight later.

Fellow Lindsay Park filly Catchy remains an outright $9 favourite in early 2017 Thousand Guineas betting markets at Ladbrokes.com.au.