Perth trainer Tiarnna Robertson ended her extended stay in Victoria in winning style when her flying mare Fabergino relished a return to a short-course sprint to win the Living Legends Handicap at Flemington.
Robertson will return home on Sunday after spending the past three months with Fabergino in Victoria.
She timed her flight home to ensure she wouldn't have to quarantine but also so she was able to watch Fabergino run.
In the past month, Robertson has also had to deal with a broken leg, a result of being kicked by the mare, but she said she was recovering well.
The trainer believes Fabergino is a 1000 metre specialist and the horse proved that again on Saturday with her easy win, her eighth over the journey from 13 starts.
Fabergino is staying in Victoria and will have a short break.
Robertson will return in a couple of weeks and she will aim the mare at the Black Caviar Lightning Stakes, also over 1000 metres at Flemington, on February 13.
Robertson was impressed with the merit of Fabergino's performance and said it was pleasing she had managed to get a win out of the trip.
“She came through that last run really well and she appreciated the big drop in class and the break between runs,” Robertson said.
Robertson said Fabergino found the 1200 metres too far when she finished last in the VRC Sprint Classic.
Her jockey Jordan Childs also regards the mare as a 1000 metre specialist and says Saturday's race panned out similarly to the Hoysted Stakes, which she won at Flemington in February.
“We were challenged but she always felt like she was going to fight them off. She's a horse with a bit of ability,” Childs said.
Fabergino ($3.80) defeated Prezado ($6.50) by three-quarters of a length with William Thomas ($5.50) another 1-1/2 lengths away third.
Impeccably bred Chris Waller stayer Miyake underlined his potential with a strong win in the Brew Stayers Trophy (2530 metres), his second victory in a row.
According to Waller's Melbourne stable foreman Jo Taylor, the horse is a stayer with a future.
Taylor said the Bagot Handicap (2800 metres) at Flemington on New Year's Day could be an option.
Miyake is by superstar Japanese stallion Deep Impact out of the smart Street Cry mare Star Fashion.
Waller turned to Damian Lane to ride him, the jockey having had a lot of success in Japan partnering horses by the stallion.
Lane said Miyake was still learning and was a bit green but he declared him a horse on the way up.
The rider made it a double when successful on Memphis Rock two races later.
Miyake ($4.20) defeated Tralee Rose ($3.90) by a half-length with Reflect The Starts ($3.40) a head away third.