The Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman-trained Autumn Angel has overcome a luckless first-up run to win the Kewney Stakes at Flemington.
Moody queried whether the filly had the fitness on her side before the running of the Group 2 race over 1600m on Saturday after her resuming run at Caulfield two weeks earlier.
The Kewney result eventually came down to luck in running which jockey Mark Zahra was able to find while the stablemate Mollynickers was held up in traffic.
Autumn Angel ($4.60) dug deep in the final 100m to hold off Basilinna ($21) by a half neck with the $4 favourite Mollynickers a head away third.
Coleman said Autumn Angel was a special filly and the stable had always held her in high esteem.
"I'm shaking. That was amazing," Coleman said.
"Last start didn't go to plan at all, but to come through and to run like that today, she's really something special.
"She's a very tough girl. She gives us a bit of a hard time at home every now and again but when they're tough like that on race day you don't mind it.
"There are good things in store for this girl."
Autumn Angel too strong in the Kewney Stakes 💪 @moodyracingpgm pic.twitter.com/wPdg4samVV
— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) March 9, 2024
Coleman said there was options aplenty for the filly.
The Group 1 Australasian Oaks (2000m) at Morphettville next month could be a consideration while there were also options in Sydney.
"She's a 2000-metre horse, and I felt when she got to the front, she was hitting a flat spot," Zahra said.
"I just needed (the whip in) the left quickly and when I pulled it through the rein, I was riding it out and it was going everywhere.
"Eventually my whip went, and I was able to keep the momentum going and she was strong to the line, so it was a good win."