Shadwell Stud's Wawail was a short priced favourite to take her unbeaten run to four in the Pack A Picnic Plate (1100m) at Flemington.
She was made to work for her win but none were going better on the line when defeating Clover Lane by a length with Tennessee Spirit 1 ¼-lengths further back in third.
It was interesting to note the comments of co-trainer David hayes after the race.
When Wawail won a Listed race at Sandown back in November Hayes said;
"I would have loved to have not paraded her before the race because I was embarrassed by how bad she looks but I think next preparation she'll strengthen that little bit and get a coat and might be a very good little filly.
Contrast that to what Hayes said of the Lonhro filly after Saturday's race.
"She's gone from being the ugliest in the mounting yard to the best looking," Hayes, who co-trains the winner with Tom Dabernig, said.
"The summer sun on her back has made a big difference and she has thrived since the spring."
"She will go to the (Group III) Vanity (at Flemington on February 21) and then to the (Group II) Kewney (at Flemington on March 14). I think she will be better off over a bit further and she's bred to be good," Hayes said.
Winning rider Michael Walker was particularly bullish.
She does it son easy, mark my words she's a Group 1 filly in the making," Walker enthused.
Foaled and raised at Yarraman Park for Shadwell, Wawail is the first live foal of Group II Edward Manifold Stakes winner El Daana (Redoute's Choice) who was also trained by Hayes.
El Daana has a 2yo colt by More Than Ready (USA) named Jeewan and a yearling filly by Sepoy. She missed to Street Cry (IRE) in 2013 before being bred back to Lonhro last spring.
Godolphin's 3yo colt Sarajevo has kept the best of company since winning at Randwick as a 2yo.
Last spring he was fourth in the Listed Rosebud and the Group III Run To The Rose before being competitive in the Group 1 Golden Rose.
He was made to work for his win in a benchmark race at Rosehill on Saturday but trainer John O'Shea believes there are better things to come
"He has the propensity to be a bit sluggish away but James (McDonald) was always going to get to the right part of the track," O'Shea said.
"As you saw in the enclosure he still has a bit of improvement to come.
"He's on the board now so we'll see where he can go from here."
Sarajevo is the second foal of the beautifully related Danehill mare Laleta (IRE).
A half-sister to the Group 1 Irish Oaks and Group 1 Nassau Stakes winner Lailani (Unfuwain), Laleta produced the Listed Hobart Guineas winner Ludka (Sinspiel). But her broodmare career had been quite tragic in subsequent years, having failed to produce a live foal in four years before Sarajevo.
But she looks to be back on track. Her 2yo colt by Medaglia D'Oro (USA) named Bosnia looks very promising having finished second at Flemington at his career debut on December 20.
Laleta foaled a Reset filly in September and was bred back to Lonhro.
