The Fancy Dean dog shot out of the No1 trap with purpose from the 545m start point, scooting to a clear lead with a lap to go and withholding his closest challenger, Know Hero, to win the $5500 feature.
Co-trainer Dave Fahey was pleased to see the Pave The Way Syndicate-owned dog make good use of the red rug.
‘‘He drew one in the Derby but was a bit slow away,'' Fahey said.
‘‘He's a mixed bag [from the boxes].''
Kava Blue has been a danger at the top level, running second to Dyna Vikkers in the Auckland Cup before his Derby campaign at Cambridge.
He won his Derby heat on March 17 but was too slow in the early stages of the Derby a week later, finishing seventh.
Yesterday's 4-length win was Kava Blu's 14th from 44 starts. His last 15 starts have been in New Zealand after he began his career in New South Wales.
Fahey said Kava Blu would be targeted at two group races in May.
‘‘There are a few races coming up - the New Zealand Futurity at Wanganui and the St Leger at Christchurch.''
The Futurity heats will be held on May 6, and the group 1 final on May 13. The St Leger heats are six days after the Futurity final, before the final on May 26.
