Themis has taken the first step towards the Group One Flight Stakes with a dominant performance at Canterbury.

The Gai Waterhouse-trained filly ($26) sat midfield before taking off at the 600m and striding to the front in the straight to easily account for Manhattan Fever ($20) and Deploy ($4.40) in a strong 1100m maiden on Wednesday.

"This filly I've always thought was a real Flight Stakes type and I've trained seven Flight Stakes (winners), so I think I've got a bit of a feel," Waterhouse said.

"I think she's very special.

"She's won a maiden today, let's not jump too quickly, but I know where I want to end up with her."

The daughter of Not A Single Doubt is also nominated for the Thousand Guineas and the Caulfield Classic.

As a two-year-old the filly finished last in the Listed Gimcrack Stakes when she pulled up shin-sore.

"If you think enough of them to start them in that race as a two-year-old then you say to yourself, `well she's got to have shown something all along, hasn't she?'," she said.

"Today was important to see if she could win this and she won it dominantly.

"Now it's a matter of just mapping out a program for her, probably keeping her to the slightly easier races and then up to the Group One if she makes the grade."

Jockey Kerrin McEvoy said the horse seemed suited to sprints at the moment, but further in her preparation might be able to get the 1600m of the Flight Stakes.

"It remains to be seen whether she can see a mile out but she's definitely headed into a nicer race at the right time of year," McEvoy said.

The win made it a race-to-race double for Waterhouse-trained three-year-olds with Raphael's Cat taking out the opening event, a 1200m benchmark 67.

Jockey Blake Shinn was tossed off the colt behind the gates but he returned to the saddle unscathed to guide the horse to a 2-1/2 length win over Tap This and Secret Trail.

Waterhouse said a Group Two sprint would be the eventual target for the son of Redoute's Choice.

"He just toyed with his opposition today," she said.

"I think he's an out-and-out speed horse, it suited him down to the ground today."