Xaar colt Dheka franked his recent good form with a grinding debut win in today’s K.A.Christianson Maiden (1600m).

The Fred Kersley three-year-old proved too strong over the concluding stages to defeat a game Campobello by a long neck with Pakasmile back in third place.

Daniel Staeck had the winner settled towards the second half of the field trailing Campobello with Buonottes Son setting the tempo out in front from Puligny Montrachet and Pakasmile who was getting a gun run third on the rails.

Inside the 350m metre mark Campobello had made a swooping run to hit the front and looked the likely winner close to home but making up ground late over the concluding stages was Dheka who had the fitness edge over Campobello who was racing first up since the WA Derby in April.

Dheka’s recent form since returning from his first preparation was solid enough to suggest a maiden win was just around the corner.

A first up third to Ten Degrees at Belmont Park when beaten by half-a-length was followed by another third placing to Reimbursement at Northam a fortnight later.

Campobello’s effort was brave and would have pleased the Luciani camp and Pakasmile continues to race consistently and battled away for his third consecutive placing.