Favourite backers weren't thrilled but the Lindsay Park operation did not mind when hot-pot Madeenaty went under in Saturday's Listed 3AW is Football Stakes (1000m) at Flemington.
Madeenaty firmed from $1.70 to $1.45 in betting but her stablemate Ploverset got home over the top of her in the last 100m to score on debut despite drifting from $13 to $21. Sam's Image raced on the pace before finishing third.
Co-trainer Tom Dabernig said the mounting yard provided a sign Madeenaty was not going to perform at the level that brought her victories in the Listed Maribyrnong Trial Stakes (1000m) and the Wyong Magic Millions race last year.
"She was left in front the stablemate (Madennaty) and she got herself a but hot and sweaty before the race," Dabernig, who trains both Madeenaty and Ploverset in partnership with David and Ben Hayes, said.
"The winner was lovely and relaxed."
The training trio thought Saturday's $120,000 contest would serve as a good lead-in for Ploverset towards the Group III TBV Thoroughbred Breeders Stakes (1200m) down the Flemington straight in a fortnight.
However, the filly will take a first-up success into her next assignment, which the stable had already identified as the perfect test for Ploverset.
"Winning down the straight, it's an ideal race for her in a couple of weeks. It should be perfect," Dabernig said.
Dabernig said the stable would assess Madeenaty before deciding whether to proceed to the Golden Slipper in the coming says.
"We'll see how she pulls up. She's been in work a fair while," Dabernig said. "She certainly wasn't disgraced today.
"We have a few days to see how she is before we make some decisions."
Dabernig added the win on Ploverset was a fitting reward for jockey Cory Parish's work around the stable at Euroa.
