Rogue Warrior continued his rapid improvement by impressively taking out the Yvonne Forrest Benchmark Hcp (1300m) at Fannie Bay yesterday.

The David Bates-trained galloper did his early racing in Sydney and Adelaide, but has lifted it up a cog each time that he has stepped out onto the Top End track.

Yesterday was his third run in the Territory and he broke through for his first victory, sitting on a strong pace before outlasting his rivals in the straight under jockey Brendon Davis.

Rogue Warrior won the feature by a length-and-a-quarter from Only Feathers, with Kirikirish in third. Last season's star three-year-old, Mahaffey Road, came fourth in his first-up run.

"He's a very talented horse on paper, we've had a lot of issues with him, he's taken a long time to settle in but we appear to be on the right track now," Bates said.

"The plan was to get him to race consistently now it appears he's going to do that. We're looking at a country cups preparation for him."

After winning her first Top End start by five-and-a-quarter lengths, the former West Australian went a step further again yesterday, demolishing her rivals by nine-and-a-half lengths.

Despite sweating up badly before the race, it didn't have any impact on the track, Colin Haddon controlling the race from the front and easing her down for a dominant win. Better things are definitely in store for her.

Earlier, consistent galloper Besofabuleux broke through for his first win in six months.

A front-running ride from Michael McDuff proved the key, a reward for trainer Mark Rattley who has been looking after the horse while the Michael Hickmott stable has been in Alice Springs for the carnival.

It was the first of a double for McDuff, who also rode Firedrake to victory.

Story courtesy of Tom Biddington, NT News