The Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman-trained Autumn Angel has overcome a luckless first-up run to score in a Stakes race at Flemington.
Moody queried whether the filly had the fitness on her side prior to the running of the Group 2 Kewney Stakes (1600m) on Saturday after her first-up run at Caulfield two weeks earlier.
Saturday’s race eventually came down to luck in running which jockey Mark Zahra was able to find while the Moody and Coleman-trained 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 bookmaker apps $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.”
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.
Zahra said despite adding a Group 2 win to his account, he said the hot weather was very tough on participants, both human and equine.
“It is too hot to be riding horses today,” Zahra said.
“She’s a 2000-metre horse, and I felt when she got to the front, she was hitting a flat spot.
“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.”