Described by co-trainer Matthew Ellerton as an ugly plane Jane when she first entered training, Arctic Angel looked to be a filly with a future when leading all the way in Saturday's $120,000 Listed Thoroughbred Club Merson Cooper Stakes (1000m) at Sandown.
Showing the benefits of a first-up fourth behind Invincible Star in the Group III Ottawa Stakes down the Flemington straight on November 1, Arctic Angel found the front from an outside barrier under minimal urging by Chris Symons.
The daughter of Hard Spun (USA) kept up a strong gallop to defeat the fast-finishing Tony McEvoy-trained Mikuni (Casino Prince) by one and three-quarter lengths with the Robbie Griffiths-trained first-starter Zarpoya (Sepoy) a head back in third.
Ellerton, who trains in partnership with Simon Zahra said he was hopeful the filly would progress to better things in the autumn.
"She probably got tired late at Flemington but she took good benefit from it and I thought she saddled-up really well today, Ellerton said.
"I thought she looked beautiful in the yard and did the job accordingly.
"She'll go to the paddock now. She's done her job this time in, she has probably gone further than I ever envisioned at the start of the prep.
"She's really blossomed all the way through; she looked the best she has ever looked today.
"She's an unassuming type of filly and she's risen to every challenge we've thrown at her, so who knows where she can go.
"She did it quite professionally in the end."
Breeder David Moodie was a big supporter of Hard Spun (USA) (pictured), and Arctic Angel descends from the family of one of Moodie's early stars, Arctic Scent.
Twenty years ago Arctic Scent won the Group I Queensland Oaks before capturing the Group 1 Caulfield Cup.
Arctic Scent's three-quarter sister Marsiliana (Marscay) was unraced but all of her five runners to reach the track were winners including the stakes-placed Brunello (Testa Rossa) and the 5-time winning Xaar mare Icy Maiden who is the dam of Arctic Angel and her stakes-placed brother Ice Flow.
She also has a yearling colt by Smart Missile.
Arctic Angel becomes the 53rd stakes-winner for the former Darley shuttler Hard Spun (USA).
