Trainer and jockey Claire Anderton sat quietly on the classy 3yr-old as she comfortably accounted for her rivals in an open 1000m heat.
The effort pleasantly surprised Anderton and suggested The Precious One is closer to peak fitness than she had thought.
Should the The Precious One continue to please Anderton, she will return to the races at the Wingatui meeting on March 26.
It was no surprise to see The Precious One winning easily, but a super run from hurdler Jackfrost, who ran second, turned heads.
The horse may be worth following in flat races before he returns to hurdling later in the season.
Trainer Steve Tyler produced Black Label for a big maiden jumpout win yesterday.
The 5yr-old Per Incanto mare has not been sighted at the races since running fifth in the second of only two starts she had for Tyler last year. Prior to that she had campaigned in the North Island.
Paco Rabanne made his first outing from Noel Graham's Wingatui stable a winning one when also took out a maiden heat.
The horse had not been sighted since last winter when racing from Kathryn Thomson's Rangiora stable.
Yesterday's fourth heat gave several horses who will run at the Gore meeting on Sunday the chance for a final hit-out.
Only a nose separated former North Island galloper Montserrat and unraced filly Luuka at the end of their 1000m contest.
Luuka has the perfect opportunity to turn the tables on Montserrat at Gore as she has landed barrier 1 and Montserrat will start from 9 in a 1200m race for fillies and mares.
The third placegetter, Markwood, another former North Island horse who has relocated to the Brian and Shane Anderton stable, was only a half length behind the first two. He is in a maiden 1335m, race 6, at Gore on Sunday.
Xanthia, a 3yr-old Pentire filly, won yesterday's 600m heat for inexperienced horses.
Today at Riccarton, Wingatui rider Courtney Barnes will ride Hot Fuss in race 6 for Riccarton trainers Kevin and Pam Hughes.
Hot Fuss is seeking a place in next month's group 1 New Zealand Oaks at Trentham.
''They're only 3 once and she looks like she will get over more ground, and we can't get her any fitter,'' Kevin Hughes said.
Hot Fuss comes into the 2000m race on the back of two third placings over the same distance.
''It's only a small field [today] and we're sure she'll run very well.''
Results.-
Heat 1, inexperienced 600m: Xanthia, S Muniandy 1, Raise the Flag-Pernote 2, Raise the Flag-Go for Gold 3. Trainer: T Kennedy. Time: 39.8sec. Margins: 1L, 7L. 4 started.
Heat 2, maiden, 800m: Black Label, Z Bholah 1, Poilu 2, Showcasing-Cherry Creek 3. Trainer: S Tyler. Time: 51.0sec. Margins: 8L, 7L. 3 started.
Heat 3, maiden, 1000m: Paco Rabanne, S Muniandy 1, Danzi Creek 2, Invite 3. Trainer: N Graham. Time: 1.06.2. Margins: Ns, 1½L. 4 started.
Heat 4, maiden, 1000m: Montserrat, J Lowry 1, Luuka 2, Markwood 3. Trainers: B & S Anderton. Time: 1.03.9. Margins: Ns, ½L. 4 started.
Heat 5, open, 1000m: The Precious One, C Anderton 1, Jackfrost 2, The Man 3. Trainer: C Anderton. Time: 1.01.9. Margins: 1½L, ns. 5 started.
