Two impeccably bred 3-year-old fillies making their career debuts fought out the finish of the GD & SL O'Sullivan Builders Maiden Plate (1300m) at Seymour on Wednesday.
The gorgeous, black Pierro filly Maisy finished determinedly under Jordan Childs to deny the solidly backed Snitzel filly Luijzika by a short head.
The 4-year-old Palentino mare Ghidi was five lengths back in third place.
"I came back early to let her find her feet," Childs said.
"She relaxed well, and I was able to plot a path through. Once I got out, she pinned the ears back and had a crack, so I think she will appreciate it further.
'
;She had to dig deep and did, so she is a little trier with better races in store.
A homebred for Rosemont Stud, the Michael, Wayne and John Hawkes-trained filly is the second live foal and second winner for the Group II VRC Matriarch Stakes winner Girl Gone Rockin'.
A daughter of Redoute's Choice, Girl Gone Rockin' raced for the same connections as Maisy after Rosemont Stud had the final say at $380,000 when consigned by Curraghmore Stud to the 2010 NZB Premier Yearling Sale.
The timing could not be better for Rosemont, which will consign an I Am Invincible half-brother to Maisy to the 2024 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale.(lot 253)
A half-sister to Group III ATC Queen's Cup winner Syreon out of the Group II STC Queen Of The Turf Stakes winner Sorrento (Just A Dancer), Girl Gone Rockin' foaled a sister to Maisy in October and was covered by Dundeel.