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Improving filly Massofdash kept her classic hopes alive when she handled a rise in class with ease to continue her winning habit at Te Rapa on Saturday.

The daughter of Align has now won her last two starts following a debut second behind Arpeggio, who has since come out and beaten the highly-regarded Mabeel at Ellerslie on Karaka Million night.

Massofdash is trained by her part-owner Jim Collett, who was pleasantly surprised by her performance to claim the NZB Insurance Pearl Series 1200.

“She’s done nothing wrong and I would have been happy if she had run second or third,” he said.

“I’m pretty proud of what she’s done against the older horses, it’s never easy.”

Collett said Massofdash would now trek south to New Plymouth to continue her preparation toward the Gr.1 Wellfield New Zealand Oaks, in which she is currently quoted as a $31 chance.

“We’ve always held her in high regard and she’s handled the step up from a maiden well so we’ve got eyes for an 1800 metre race at Taranaki against the three-year-old fillies next,” he said.

“She’s nominated for the Oaks and at this stage that’s the way she’s heading.”

Massofdash was ridden by his daughter Samantha and they came with a well-timed run to down last season’s Gr.3 Eulogy Stakes placegetter Zaperb.

“It was a big step up in class today, but she’s got a fair amount of ability,” she said.

“I had to niggle at her a fair way out and she never stopped trying so it’s on to bigger things for her now.”

The Colletts are confident Massofdash can continue to improve over more ground and the presence of the respective Queensland Derby and Oaks winners Tristina and Giovana, as well as the rugged stayer Watch Officer, in her pedigree augurs well for her future.