Just five runners went to the post for the Wilde Racing Handicap (1100m) for two-year-old fillies at Caulfield on Saturday, which was expected to be easy pickings for Ole Kirk's half-sister Gimmie Par.
A half-length second to the top-class Ingratiating in the Listed Talindert Stakes at Flemington at her career debut on February 13, Gimmie Par was sent off a short-priced favourite.
After a sluggish start, the Peter Moody-trained daughter of Not A Single Doubt sat three deep the trip under Luke Nolen and was all out to hold the finish of the Pierro debutant Spinning by a short-head.
The Vancouver filly Vandoula Lass was two and a quarter-length back in third.
Moody remained upbeat despite the narrow win and will press on to Brisbane with the BRC Sires' Produce Stakes pencilled in.
"She probably got a bit lost. She hit the front at the top of the straight and didn't really know how to knuckle down, Moody said.
"We saw that at Flemington. It took her until the last 50 metres to work out how to flatten out when she got upside the horse that beat her there.
"She will take good benefit away from it and a winner anywhere.
"She will go to Queensland whether it is a race or a holiday, she will determine that on how she does in the next couple of weeks.
"She's only a whippet, she's only a little girl who will get a birt stronger. I'm not sure how far her physique will take her but on ability, there is plenty of it. Is she going to be big enough and strong enough? There is a little question mark."
Luke Nolen said he did not believe the best was seen of the filly today.
“What she has done at home has been far more impressive,” Nolen said.
“She stepped OK and I let her get into the race at her leisure.
“I thought coming around the corner I was on the best horse, I’ll sit three deep, and that was probably my intention pre-race.
“She was tradesman like today. I probably made a blunder with her gallop on Tuesday. It was a little deflating, but I feel she’s got a lot more upside.
“Although she’s a winner today, I think she can go on to bigger and greater heights.”
A homebred for Rick Jamieson's Gilgai Farm, Gimmie Par is the second foal and second winner out of the unraced Bel Esprit mare Naturale.
A full-sister to the undefeated champion Black Caviar, Naturale hit the ground running in her broodmare career.
Her first foal was the Group 1 MRC Caulfield Guineas and Group 1 ATC Golden Rose Stakes hero Ole Kirk (Written Tycoon) who commences his stallion career at Vinery Stud in the spring at a fee of $55,000.
Naturale has not had a foal since Gimmie Par, but she has an early September cover by Written Tycoon.
