Making her career debut, the Peter Moody-trained, bred, and owned filly Cotel made all the running in Saturday's Take It To The Neds Level Hcp (1100m) for two-year-old fillies at Caulfield.
With Linda Meech in the saddle, the daughter of Charge Forward kept up a solid gallop to defeat the Jukebox filly Jukebox Flyer by one and three-quarter lengths with a further length back to the Churchill (IRE) filly Tanto in third.
When the rain began to fall on Friday, Moody decided to scratch his highly regarded Zoustar filly Tapin' Three to rely on Cotel.
"This filly worked better than her (Tapin' Three) on soft ground on Saturday, so we gave Tapin' Three the day off when the rains came, and confidence grew with this filly as most of the Charge Forward stock appreciate it," Moody said.
"She (Meech) won on a filly very similar, She Dances, at Sandown about a month back. I'm not sure if this filly has the same ability, but I said to go about it the same way.
"She showed a nice kick, and they are hard to run down in these conditions when they get that sought of lead here."
Cotel is the second live foal, and first winner for the unraced Flying Spur mare Cotillard whose Melbourne-winning dam Chateau D'Yquem (Pins) is a three-quarter-sister to Group 1 NZ OneThousand Guineas and Group 1 NZ Two Thousand Guineas winner Katie Lee.
Chateau D'Yquem is also a half-sister to dual Group 1 winner Gee I Jane and Group III winner Miss Jessie Jay, dam of Group 1 ARC Ford Diamond Stakes winner Banchee (Oratorio).
Busuttin Racing / Group 1 Bloodstock shelled out $150,000 for Cotillard's Shamus Award filly consigned by Maluka Thoroughbreds to the 2022 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale.
Not covered in 2020, Cotillard visited Alabama Express last spring.
Cotel is the first two-year-old winner of the season for Murrulla Stud's veteran Charge Forward, who covered just four mares at his 17th season at stud last spring.
