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Emerging sprinter Flak Jacket took to the next level in impressive fashion when he made light work of his rivals in the $80,000 Panasonic Toughbook Stakes, a Class 3 race over 1200m on Sunday.

Bidding for a three-in-a-row after scoring his last win at Class 4 level, the Shane Baertschiger-trained gelding was facing his biggest test thus far, with the likes of Straighttothepoint, Kaiser, smart newcomer Lim’s Harvest in the mix, but he still came through with flying colours as he unleashed a blinding turn of foot that blew his rivals away inside the last 400m.

Electing for his customary leading role, Flak Jacket crossed to the plastic 200m after the jump before regular partner Matthew Kellady dropped anchor to assume full control of the race. Kaiser (Soo Khoon Beng) and World War (Nooresh Juglall) were next in line while the well-backed runners like favourite Straighttothepoint (Corey Brown) was just a few lengths behind and Bellwether (Manoel Nunes) was even further back.

But upfront, Flak Jacket was in a world of his own, and the moment Kellady slipped some reins upon straightening, the bird was off and gone. Kaiser did try to cut into the margin, but Flak Jacket never weakened and held a two-length margin over the gallant Theo Kieser-trained galloper.

The Leticia Dragon-trained Lim’s Harvest (John Powell) is one for the blackbookers after he stuck on well to run third on debut, another length away. The winning time was 1min 9.6secs.

Baertschiger admitted Flak Jacket ($20), a full-brother to former Australian multiple Group-winning mare Red Tracer and raced by the same owner Geoff Grimish, was tackling a different kettle of fish on Sunday, but could not wipe the big smile off his face when Kellady was able to settle the gelding into the lead without spending too much petrol.

“He was up in class and it’s true he hasn’t beaten much at his first two wins, but when he lobbed to the front and Matty was able to give him a breather, I knew he’d be hard to beat,” he said.

“He’s got such a great turn of foot and when he kicked clear at the top of the straight, it would have taken a very good horse to run him down.

“I’ll see how many points he picks up from the handicapper, but I may test him over 1400m next.

“As he goes up in grade, the tempo is a bit quicker in those short sprints, and it may be a good idea to test him over a little further now.”

Kellady, who scored his first Group success with another Grimish horse, One Rar, in the Group 3 Causeway Classic Stakes in August, said Flak Jacket must be stoked up early or he dwindles under pressure.

“I had to set him alight to get the fence, and I thought he might be vulnerable in the end,” said Kellady.

“Coming to the first corner, he went quite hard, but as I didn’t hear anybody shouting, I was able to give him a breather.

“He’s a horse you can’t afford to sit and wait on him. If horses come up to him, and you let go, he will switch off.

“We used to ride him quiet when he didn’t have the blinkers on in the past and he would just switch off and that didn’t suit him.

“With the blinkers on, he is a lot sharper, but you must also let him kick clear early and it’s then catch-me-if-you-can.”

Flak Jacket has now brought his stakes earnings just a tick under $100,000 for his Australian connections.