One bubble burst while another remained intact in the Cockram Stakes at Caulfield on Saturday.
Passive Aggressive and Chain Of Lightning entered the Group 3 1200m race for fillies and mares unbeaten in four starts.
The Grahame Begg-trained Passive Aggressive was sent out the $1.90 favourite with the Peter Moody-trained Chain Of Lightning a $7 chance. And while the former led at a controlled tempo under Jordan Childs, Chain Of Lightning sat back before Jamie Kah pulled her out towards the centre of the Caulfield straight to unleash.
Charging to the front inside the final 100m, Chain Of Lightning raced away to win by 1-¼ lengths from She’s All Class ($41) with Kissonallfourcheeks ($13) another three-quarters-of-a-length away.
Passive Aggressive faded in the run home to finish fourth.
“She was a little bit disappointing,” Childs said of the favourite.
“We got to the gates OK, got to the front easily, and had a pretty cruisy time but she just didn’t let down today like she can do.
“She felt a little reserved and didn’t flatten out, so it’s back to the drawing board.”
Moody’s assistant trainer Katherine Coleman said Chain Of Lightning had continued to improve from the time she first arrived at the stable.
Coleman said they had always considered the mare capable of rising to this grade.
“She’s a pretty special horse,” Coleman said.
“My heart is beating so hard after that. That was really special to see and to still be undefeated now, five wins from five starts.
“She was so well-educated when she came to us. She’s been a pleasure to have around and is just so easy to do anything with and you see that in her races.
“She’s just so tractable, we can put her wherever we want and she’s still finishing off that way.”
Coleman said the stable has no specific plans for Chain Of Lightning and will see how the mare recovers from Saturday’s contest before deciding on her next outing.