Saturday's Group 1 Schweppes Thousand Guineas (1600m) was a three-horse war over the final 300 metres and it was Godolphin's race favourite Flit that edged out Missile Mantra and Southbank and had James Cummings contemplating a run in the Group I Ladbrokes Cox Plate (2040m) at Moonee Valley in a fortnight.
Flit defeated Missile Mantra (Smart Missile) by a nose, with Southbank (Fastnet Rock) another short half-head away third. (images Grant Courtney)
Making her sixth start, Flit had just one previous win on her resume, the Group III Thoroughbred Breeders Stakes at Flemington, which she had to share with Ready Set Sail, and had little luck at her most recent start in the Group II Thousand Guineas Prelude.
Winning jockey Hugh Bowman felt that the daughter of Medaglia d'Oro (USA) would have won more comfortably had it been run at a more even tempo.
"She's a quality filly and it wasn't a real test today," Bowman said.
"It was just a sprint home so I don't think we saw the best of her.
"I think if it was a genuinely run event she would have won more comfortably."
James Cummings said three-year-old fillies have a good record in the Cox Plate
"We've got that decision to make," Cummings said.
"We can let the dust settle on today. We have to enjoy the win and a target that has well and truly been pulled off.
I must say before getting through the Caulfield Stakes this year it's looking pretty open. I dare say she'd be comfortable at a mile and a quarter.
"She came into this today with half a win to her name. While she can keep making ground and having the run with flashing lights on them, there is something to be said for winners. To come here and win a Group One with such little winning experience says a lot about her future.
"She can always lay claim to being a Thousand Guineas winner and that's a great title for her to hold and a wonderful achievement for all of the staff."
Flit is a half-sister to stakes-placed Flow and is the best of three winners from Group III placed Redoute's Choice mare Glissade, a daughter of Group III winner Steflara.
Glissade has a weanling filly by Street Boss (USA) and was covered last spring by Frosted (USA).
Flit gives Medaglia d'Oro (USA) his 25th success at the elite level and follows Golden Slipper winner Vancouver, the Darley stallion Astern and NZ Derby winner Crown Prosecutor as Medaglia d'Oro's Australian-bred Group 1